Decluttering tips to get your home ready for a move

If you’re planning a move, now is the perfect time to clean and declutter your home. It’s the first and most important step because it sets the tone for a smooth move and helps you let go of anything you don’t need in your next chapter.

By doing so, you will:

• Simplify your packing process.
• Reduce the volume of stuff you will need to move. 
• Cut the cost of your relocation.
• Give yourself more space and flexibility in your new home. 

Decluttering is a much-hyped subject on social media platforms like TikTok. Using the hashtag #Cleantok, countless experts are sharing viral videos on the topic. Each of them offers a unique take on anything from home organisation to junk elimination. Some obsessive declutterers may be going a bit over the top. You could reach the point of essentially living in an empty apartment. Balance is key. 

But ahead of a move, the decluttering fad is on your side. So browse around and get inspired, and pick up a few handy life hacks as you go.

This guide is here to help you start decluttering for your move with simple steps, a few trending tricks, and local tips to keep you on track.

What are the benefits of decluttering before a move?

The benefits of a declutter are plentiful.

• You’ll have less to pack and move: Don’t underestimate how much you’ll appreciate this when the day comes. 
• It will be easier to stay organised: During the move, you will know where everything is and where it’s going. After the move, your home will be optimised for an efficient, happy life. 
• You will save on moving costs: Movers tend to charge by volume—you don’t want to pay them to move boxes of junk. 
• It will make your home more saleable: An orderly home gives prospective buyers a clearer view of its potential. It gives them a chance to imagine their own life in space. This could bump up the sale price. 

Read our list of items you should toss before moving.

A step-by-step guide to decluttering your home for a move

Step 1: Start early and give yourself time

Decluttering can be tiring because it involves making a lot of decisions, some of them emotionally taxing. So it’s best to do it in a series of regular bursts, over weeks or even months. 

Step 2: Work room by room 

Don’t dart around between rooms and cupboards—you can easily get distracted and scattered as you move things around. Stick with a room till it’s done, and then move on to the next one. 

Step 3: Create clear sorting categories—keep, donate, sell, toss

Have a container or corner for each. If you’re decluttering over a longer period, it's worth doing more than one recycling or donating trip. The uncluttered space you've created is a reward to keep you going. 

Step 4: Be realistically sentimental—only keep what’s useful or meaningful

You may think it’s lovely, but do you actually love it? You may think it’s useful, but have you ever used it? You are allowed to keep anything that’s emotionally significant, but don’t stretch that definition too far.

Step 5: Organise as you go—use boxes, labels and storage bins

Having the right equipment to categorise and store things is critical, but don’t go overboard. Some declutterers end up cluttering their home with empty ergonomic boxes.

Decluttering trends worth trying (from TikTok and beyond)

The KonMari Method

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A post shared by KonMari by Marie Kondo (@konmari.co)

This five-step KonMari Method was devised by the original decluttering guru, Marie Kondo. She won fame with the famous criterion for keeping an object. Does it give you joy?

Kondo also advises organising by category. This, in comparison to sorting by room, creates more order. Categories can include: clothes, books, papers, miscellaneous items and sentimental items. 

The One-Hour Method

This trending method, started by Britt Scaffedi, involves making a daunting tidying project doable by dedicating only an hour to it.

Use a timer. You may need to do another hour the next day. But at least you aren’t losing an entire day, and the time constraint helps you stay focused and goal-oriented.

The Core 4 Method

Popularised by professional organiser Kayleen Kelly, this method divides the decluttering project into four steps. These are:

1. C: Clear out—bring all the stuff out of drawers, cupboards, etc.
2. C: Categorise
3. C: Cut out—decide what to donate, dump or sell.
4. C: Contain—sort items into containers. 

It’s a simple, logical system.

The Move-Out Method

This decluttering approach was originally created by Katie Holdefehr, associate editorial director for Real Simple and author of Embrace Your Space. In this method, you pretend you’re moving out, with a fictional moving date. This helps you eliminate clutter with brutal decisiveness. And then you “move back in” in your imagination once the clutter has been klapped. This also works if you’re actually moving out!

The Room-by-Room Approach

 As the name suggests, this approach is about dividing the task into room-sized pieces, giving you the satisfaction of regular achievements.

How to apply these trends for a stress-free move

• Combine methods to suit your style: For example, you can use the One-Hour Method for your routine, and the Core 4 method for your organising process.
• Keep it short and sweet: It’s often better to schedule short daily cleaning sessions instead of marathon weekends. Don’t overthink it, and don’t overdo it. 
• Focus on progress, not perfection: TikTok trends are not essential, but they will help you feel you’re not alone and keep you motivated when it all gets a bit much.
• Get help from friends or family: Turn a decluttering day into a casual braai or social gathering.

Once your home is streamlined, you’re ready to book your move through Wise Move, ensuring a seamless handoff to an excellent moving service. 

Tips to stay motivated while decluttering

• Set a timer: This could be for an hour or even 15 minutes—it will add a bit of adrenaline. 
• Play your favourite music: Get a vibe going, or follow along with a decluttering video.
• Reward yourself after each room: Think of a decadent treat, an episode of your favourite show, or a trip to your favourite store. 
• Get help from friends or family: there’s nothing better than an injection of team spirit.

What to do with your decluttered items

Give them away

• Donate to local charity shops, NGO, orphanages, and old-age homes. We've put together the best places to donate your items in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban.
• Give them directly to homeless people, who often need used clothing, and can resell other items.
• Offer items via community WhatsApp groups or Facebook groups like 'Buy Nothing South Africa.'

Sell them

You can post them on Facebook Marketplace, WhatsApp groups and other local marketplaces, like Junk Mail and Gumtree. Good-quality second-hand clothes can also be sold on Yaga.

Recycle responsibly

A great start is to understand how South Africa's recycling and waste management system works.

You can also find your local recycling depots here or contact your local municipality for details on drop-off points in your area.

Is your home move-ready?

To help you know if you’re good to go, here’s a quick checkpoint bullet list to print out or save: 

Have you … 

• Decluttered each room?
• Packed all your essentials for the move?
• Sorted your unwanted stuff into donation and recycling boxes? 
• Delivered donations and recycling goods, or had them collected? 
• Settled on a moving date?

If the answer is yes, then it’s time for the last step: getting the best removals quotes possible. And the best place to do that is on Wise Move. The best local movers will bid for your move, with a checklist format ensuring easy price and service comparisons.