We all tend to accumulate too much "stuff," especially when we've lived in the same place for a while. If you are gearing up for a move to a newly purchased New England home, now is the perfect time to start decluttering. Why waste the time and money packing and moving things you don't need? If you aren't sure just where to start, our real estate agents have some ideas for you. Here are tips on decluttering to lighten the load before you move to your new home.

Start early, and with a plan
Decluttering usually takes longer than we expect, so if possible, start at least 6 weeks before your moving date. Make a solid plan to devote an hour or two a day to thin out your stuff, and stick to it. Even if you start small, just clearing a couple of cabinets or drawers each day, a little daily progress will add up to a lot less clutter by the time you move.

Begin with duplicate items
Do you need that spare toaster, blender or slow-cooker tucked away in the back of the cabinet? How often do you even use the ones set out on the counter? Do you have three hammers and five of every type of screwdriver made? Maybe you have three times as many towels in your linen closet as you will ever use or 10 sets of sheets for your bed. Perhaps there are several sets of dishes in your kitchen cabinets – enough to feed an army. Thinning out duplicate items can free up a lot of room on your moving truck.

Purge your closets and dressers
Chances are that you and your family have hung onto clothes, shoes, and accessories that rarely, if ever, get worn. Perhaps they don't fit anymore, have gone out of style, or are tucked away for special occasions. Now is the time to purge all those items that never see the light of day. If it hasn't been worn in the last 6 months, get rid of it. Toss items that are torn or stained and donate clothing that is in good shape to charity.

Sort through those sentimental items
This is the hard part of decluttering. We all have certain items – a few or a lot – that serve no purpose, but we keep them anyway. Perhaps they were gifts from loved ones, knick-knacks passed down through the family or a set of "good china" inherited from your grandmother that hasn't been on the table in years. These are generally things that we don't really need or want, but we feel guilty getting rid of. Perhaps they are still boxed up from the last move, stored away in the attic or at the back of a closet. Hard as it may be, getting them out of your life will make your move easier, and let you start out life in your new home without excess baggage. Give them to family, donate them to charity – you'll still have the memories associated with these items once they're no longer taking up space and collecting dust.

For more tips on decluttering before you move, please feel free to contact us. We're always happy to help area buyers and sellers in any way we can.