Clearing out an old house can feel like a huge project, especially when you have to box up years of memories, go through forgotten cupboards and random storage boxes are involved. It takes a lot of planning and a steady approach to the whole thing to avoid feeling overloaded. The process is much less stressful – and more satisfying – when you are well prepared. Whether you’re moving you, your family or you’re helping a friend, you can take it one step at a time and make sure that your clearout isn’t too much for you.
One of the first things that you have to consider when you are clearing out your old house is scheduling any necessary additional services. Old garages, sheds and storage spaces can sometimes become a home to spiders and unwanted visitors. Scheduling necessary pest control will help you with this one so that you can get the house cleared out to the bones properly. Sorting this early allows you to work more comfortably and prevents any surprises hiding behind older furniture. After that, move from one room to the next methodically. You want to pick a single space, put on the music and just go – you can bet that completing just one cupboard at a time will give you a true sense of momentum.
Creating simple categories is another helpful trick. Keep the boxes labelled so you know what you’re donating, keeping or putting in the trash. That will ensure that you aren’t keeping anything you don’t need to keep. If you haven’t used something in years or those things no longer bring you joy, it’s time to let go. Sentimental items are often the hardest part but when you go through all of those older things, you can decide what’s sentimental and what’s just old and hard to let go of. Give yourself permission to pause as you go for these items. The things that matter the most can be the hardest to discard but remember, you have to bring these things to your house and if you don’t have space, you don’t have space.
Being realistic about furniture and large items is also important. If that treadmill in the garage has been gathering dust for years then it’s time to get rid of it. You may have had some good intentions with it but that doesn’t mean that you followed through. It may be a good time to say goodbye if it’s become a clothes hanger, and don’t forget to ask for help if you need it. People will gather around you to help and support the move if you need it and that includes cleaning. Bringing in the cleaners to properly deep clean the house is smart if you’re letting go of a rental but it’s not necessary. You just need to make sure that it’s up to scratch. None of this needs to be completed in one weekend, either, so don’t forget that part! You can do it over time as long as you’re organised.
