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6 Items to Purge Before You Start Packing

A number of packed boxes sits on the floor of a home living roomOne of the most significant advantages of moving is that it allows you to go through every single object in your home and determine if it needs to move with you or not. Moving creates a natural opportunity to let go of excess items. Think about filling your new home with only things that you need or desire. It may feel like a weight has been lifted off of you to live in a house like that. Keep reading for a list of items that you can begin to purge before you start packing.

Old Electronics

It seems like electronics go out of date just as fast as they come off the shelf. Before you start packing, get rid of out-of-date, broken, or unused electronics. Check for recycling opportunities in your area, as many electronics shouldn’t be put out with the regular trash.

Unfinished Projects

We all have unfinished projects that have been hard to part with for one reason or another. Before packing up and moving an unfinished project, you need to be 100% positive that you will have time to finish the project after moving and 100% positive that you have a designated space for the end result in your new home. 

House Materials

Speaking of unfinished projects, if you have leftover paint, tiles, wallpaper, or other house-specific materials, those do not need to make the trip with you to your new home. Check with the new owner to see if these are items they would like to be left behind for them. If not, donate or dispose of them before you begin packing.

Outgrown Toys

Everyone has kept toys that their children have outgrown in the hopes that they will pick them back up and be entertained for a few hours. Now is the time to purge outgrown toys with a vengeance. If it has not been used within the last 3-6 months, it is time to find a new family that can get some use out of these items.

Old Documents

Scan all of the essential documents that you still need a record of but don’t need a physical copy. Remember when disposing of old documents to shred anything that has personal information such as account numbers, passwords, etc. Shredding documents with your personal information reduces the likelihood of becoming an identity theft victim.

Duplicates

When you start cleaning out the cupboard, pantry, attic, or garage, you may find duplicate items that you had put away and forgotten. Our advice is to immediately compare the two items, keep the more useful or less worn of the two, and donate the other.

Once everything that has value to you is packed and ready to move, leave the rest to 1-800-PACK-RAT. We can service moves of all sizes for both local and long-distance moves. We even offer a variety of storage solutions for times of transition. Give us a call at 1-800-722-5728 to receive a free, no-obligation quote.