The Top Reasons to Donate Unused Items Before a Move

Do you need to declutter your home before a major move? Before you move old clothes, toys, or other similar items or toss them in the trash, take a look at the top reasons to consider donation.

Do Something Good for Others

You could sell unused belongings, throw away aging furniture, or leave some of your old items behind. Even though these are all ways to reduce the overall size of your move, donation is often the only option that allows you to do something good for others.

Your clothes that go unused, toys that take up space, and furniture that will not fit into your new house can all find a new home with someone deserving. While a yard sale (or selling unused items online) can make you extra moving money, it will not usually help you to do something meaningful or assist the underserved members of your community.

Have an Easier Move

It takes time, energy, and effort to move the boxes, bins, bags, and furniture from your soon-to-be old home into your new space. Even though the movers may do all the heavy lifting, the lighter the load, the easier you will make your move. The decision to donate unused, lightly used, or rarely used everyday items and furniture reduces the bulk of your move and makes the process easier for everyone involved.

Have a Less Expensive Move

Who doesn't want to save money? A local move that weighs 7,500 pounds or includes a two- to three-bedroom home can cost well over $1,000, according to the website Moving.com. If your mover charges by the pound (a weight-based move), truckload, room, or square footage of space the items require, donation can help you to reduce the overall cost of the service.

Save on Storage

The moving company costs are not the only way you can spend money during a move. If you do not want to take everything with you or do not have space to bring all your belongings, you may need to rent a storage unit. Like movers, self-storage companies may charge customers by size or square footage.

The more you donate, the less you will have to store. This can save you on unnecessary self-storage fees or allow you to rent a smaller (and possibly less expensive) unit.

Reduce Stress

Research shows the negative effects a cluttered environment can have on a person's psychological state. A Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin study found that women who saw their homes as cluttered had higher cortisol (stress hormone) levels. The chaos of a major move is stressful by itself. Add in extra clutter, and you may find it difficult to relax.

Donation clears the excess clutter from your home before the move begins. This can reduce stress and add a sense of calm to this major life transition.

Organize Your Move Easily

Not only will less clutter help to reduce stress, it can also increase your ability to easily organize your move. The less you need to pack and transport, the better. If organization is an issue for you, separate anything you can or should donate. Give these items away to a local charity or similar organization.

Now that you have donated everything you can (or anything you do not use and adds to your home's clutter), organize for your move. The reduced everyday items and furniture will help you to easily arrange, categorize, and inventory anything you want to take with you.

Are you ready to schedule your next major move? Contact Superior Economy Moving for more information. We look forwards to meeting with you and fulfilling your moving needs.