Moving abroad? Learn some tips on decluttering home beforehand. By the way, if you want to hire the best international moving service, then rely on us. Get free international moving quotes here.
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How to declutter home before moving abroad… What to do with surplus items… Should I donate items or sell them? Is packing household items for an international move worth it? Please do yourself a favor. Read this blog post to learn some amazing home decluttering tips and hacks.
Planning an international move can be an exciting time. But it also requires a lot of work, and one of the most daunting tasks is decluttering your home. I have written this blog post with the aim to share some useful tips to help the home decluttering process easier
Are you moving from India to the USA, the UK, the UAE, or any other country in the world? It’s great news indeed. Moving abroad is an exciting time in your life. It is a chance to experience new cultures and ways of living. I can understand that you are over the moon. Hold your horses!
While it can be an exciting adventure, it can also be stressful and overwhelming. There are so many things to consider before you move abroad. You have to deal with visas, packing all your stuff into boxes and shipping them over the ocean or across borders, as well as planning for what life will look like in this new country.
One of the most difficult aspects of an international move is decluttering your home before you take your international flight. It can be hard to know where to start, and you may feel overwhelmed by the amount of stuff you have. But do not fret—you have been covered! Here are some easy tips to help you declutter your home before moving abroad.
Why is the Home Decluttering Important Before an International Move?
The very first thing you need to understand is what clutter is. Clutter is anything in your room or house that does not add any value to your life. It can be anything from books to old furniture, clothes to jewelry, or electronics to kitchen utensils. In simple words, it is anything that you do not need. Clutter is the easiest thing to accumulate and the hardest to get rid of. It is so because you do not know what you have. You keep it because you think you may need it or because you do not want to throw it away, but in reality, you do not need it at all. So, decluttering your home before moving abroad is important because it will help you get rid of unnecessary things and make your move much easier.
Step-by-Step Guide to Declutter Home for International Moving
Here are some practical tips to help you declutter your home before moving abroad:
1. Check the customs policy for new residents in the country you are moving to
It's a common misconception that the first step in downsizing is to go through every item you own and consider whether or not it makes you happy. Check the customs policy for new residents at your destination before you begin making preparations for what to bring on your new journey. You will need to do this before you can start packing for your new experience.
Pay special attention to these two things.
- Taxes: Know the taxes and duties that will apply to the items you will be bringing into the new country first.
- Prohibited Items: Know about the limitations and restrictions on what you can bring into the new country.
2. Check airline baggage regulations for international travel
There are three factors that make this step essential for you. Firstly, it will let you know what you can carry with you. Secondly, it will inform you how much you can carry. Lastly, it will let you know the total cost of your luggage fees.
Needless to say, you cannot bring knives, guns, bullets, or hazardous materials onboard any domestic or international flight. Knowing this is not enough. Know that there are limitations and restrictions on what you carry with you in checked luggage.
That's why it's crucial that you verify the airline's rules in advance. Also, go to the website of the country's aviation authority from which you will be departing. This will give you a true picture of what items are restricted, especially on an international move. It is important to keep in mind that airline security personnel have the authority to confiscate any prohibited items and will do so. And I have no doubt that you would rather avoid such an embarrassment than experience it.
Another important thing you should know is that every airline has its own set of rules and regulations. It is no secret that the fee structure for the size, weight, and the number of bags varies from airline to airline. What about "excess baggage," which is the number of bags you have that are more than the number of checked bags your ticket allows? There can be separate rules for that. And you will have to pay additional fees as well. It would be better to hire a professional moving company for excess baggage or luggage transportation, as it can sometimes be a cheaper option than carrying it with you.
3. Make a list of everything you've decided not to move
If you are wondering what to get rid of before your international move, this is where you should start. The way I see it, you should create a spreadsheet as an inventory of items that you will not move. It is another great thing if you use Google Sheets because you can access it from any device and anywhere. After you have created the spreadsheet, go from room to room and make a list of everything that you have in your house. Your inventory spreadsheet should look like this:
| Items | What to Do |
| Old Coffee Maker | |
| Important Documents | |
| Clothes | |
| Old Refrigerator | |
| Laptop | |
| Tablet, Chargers, Phones | |
| Furniture | |
| Family heirlooms | |
| Books & Clothes | |
| Surplus Items | |
| Decor Items | |
| LED TV |
4. Sort items into categories like Pack, Sell, and Donate
Now that you have made a master inventory list, it is time to do some serious decluttering. Fill in the "What to Do" column with either pack, sell, or donate. Put down your initial reaction for the moment; you can always change it later.
| Items | What to Do |
| Old Coffee Maker | Donate |
| Important Documents | Pack |
| Clothes | Pack |
| Old Refrigerator | Sell |
| Laptop | Pack |
| Tablet, Charges, Phones | Pack |
| Furniture | Sell |
| Family heirlooms | Pack |
| Books & Clothes | Donate |
| Surplus Items | Sell/Donate |
| Decor Items | Donate |
| LED TV | Sell |
5. Determine the value of your belongings
You have categorized your belongings—Pack, Sell, and Donate. For every item you want to sell you must know its value. To make it easier, add another column in the inventory spreadsheet and name it "Value." This will help you know what amount you can early by selling your old stuff.
| Items | What to Do | Price |
| Old Coffee Maker | Donate | |
| Important Documents | Pack | |
| Clothes | Pack | |
| Old Refrigerator | Sell | Rs. 5,000 |
| Laptop | Pack | |
| Tablet, Charges, Phones | Pack | |
| Furniture | Sell | Rs. 25,000 |
| Family heirlooms | Pack | |
| Books & Clothes | Donate | |
| Surplus Items | Sell/Donate | |
| Decor Items | Donate | |
| LED TV | Sell | Rs. 8,000 |
6. Take pictures of the items you plan to put up for sale
It should not be too difficult to sell items online, but the process will be much easier and faster if you upload high-quality images. You do not need to set everything up like a fashion photo shoot, but you should definitely think about the lighting and what’s going on in the background. When photographing items that you want to sell, make sure that there is no clutter in the background. Clear away any unnecessary clutter and make use of a plain background, such as a white wall. Once you have your photographs, you should save them in an album that allows others to view them, such as Google Photos or Google Drive.
7. List your items on eBay, Facebook, and other online marketplaces
Selling online is an excellent way to get rid of items you no longer need. The best part? You can do it all from your couch! With more than 1 billion monthly active users, there is no shortage of people who are looking for secondhand or used products online. Take the opportunity to sell your items online before moving abroad. List your items on eBay, Facebook, and other marketplaces to sell them for more than what you would get at a garage sale. You will have more money in your pocket and less clutter in your life!
8. Give any unsold items available to friends and family
You still have a lot of unsold items, even after selling some of them online. Since your move date is drawing near, you want to get rid of unsold items quickly. Not a big deal! If you have any unsold items available, why not give them to your friends and family? You already have photos of your items that do not want to move with you. Send the photos to your friends and family and ask them if they need them.
9. Give the remaining items to charity
Still, you have some items left with you that you do not want to move. What will you do now? Do not fret. Go on the internet and search for local charitable organizations. Make phone calls to them and tell them about your concern. You will find several charitable organizations that will be ready to accept your old belongings. What’s next? Donate your remaining items to charity.
10. Pack the items that you really want to move abroad
After following the above steps to declutter your home for an international move, you will have nothing left but the belongings you intend to take abroad. What’s more? Start packing your belongings. Remember to use premium-quality packing materials to provide secure packaging for your possessions. It would always be wise to employ a professional moving company to pack your belongings for your international move.
Also Read: 15 Questions to Ask Your Mover in International Moving Quotes
Summing Up
Moving abroad is an exciting experience that can bring a lot of joy and new opportunities. However, it also requires a lot of planning and preparation, and one of the most important tasks is decluttering your home. As this guide has shown, decluttering can be a daunting process, but it doesn’t have to be. By following the steps in this blog post, you can make it easier to clear out your home, which will make your international move go more smoothly and with less stress. It is important to remember that clutter does not add value to your life, so it is best to get rid of it.
A decluttered home will make the transition to your new home much smoother and more enjoyable. With proper planning and a little effort, you can make the process of moving abroad easier and more enjoyable. So, take the time to declutter before your move and ensure a smooth transition.
A copywriter, blogger, content strategist by profession, and an information junkie by heart. I have a penchant for reading, researching, writing, and anything related to creating persuasive content. For me, writing is something that ignites my creativity and helps in keeping me on cloud nine. I have been working in the content writing domain since 2006. Be it blogging or copywriting, I create better content that fuels conversations and skyrockets search traffic.
