Moving, Packing and De-cluttering Your Home
Moving house is one of the best opportunities you will have to de-clutter your home. Most households accumulate possessions over the years that are no longer used, and a move gives you both the motivation and a deadline to deal with them. Done properly, de-cluttering before a move reduces the volume you need to transport, which can lower your removal costs and make setting up your new home significantly quicker. It also removes the need to move items you will only discard after you arrive.
When to Start
The earlier you start, the less pressure you will feel as moving day approaches. As a guide, begin going through the rooms you use least — loft, garage, spare bedroom, under-stairs storage — at least six to eight weeks before your move. Leave everyday rooms until the final week or two. The more time you give yourself, the more considered your decisions will be. If you realise partway through that you have underestimated the task, focus on the highest-volume rooms first. Lofts and garages often take far longer than people expect.
A System That Works: Three Piles
Work through each room using a simple three-pile system:
- Keep: Items you use regularly or genuinely want in the new property
- Sell or donate: Items in good condition that still have a life left in them
- Bin or recycle: Broken, worn out, or genuinely beyond use
The discipline is in not allowing a fourth pile of “maybes”. If you are not sure about something, make a decision now — you will still be unsure about it in the new house. Go room by room, completing one before moving to the next. Spreading the task across your whole house at once leads to chaos.
Although it can feel sentimental to sort through possessions you have owned for years, try to make choices based on facts rather than habit. If you find this difficult, ask a trusted friend to help — they will be more objective than you are.
Selling Unwanted Items
If you have enough time before the move, selling beforehand can help offset removal or storage costs. Electronics, furniture, clothing, and sports equipment tend to sell well online. Auction platforms and social media marketplaces are worth trying for anything with value. If you have a large quantity of items, a weekend garage sale can bring in a reasonable amount.
Be realistic about what will actually sell, and set a deadline. Anything that does not shift within a week or two should move to the donation pile rather than delay you.
Donating to Charity
If you prefer not to sell, donation is the next best option. Most charity shops welcome clothes, books, kitchenware, and household items in good condition. Local food banks may take non-perishable food. Homeless shelters and women’s refuges often welcome gently used bedding, towels, and household goods — ring ahead to confirm what they accept before turning up with a carload.
What to Do with Items You Cannot Sell or Donate
Some items are too large or worn for donation and too bulky for the recycling bin. Your options include:
- Council bulky waste collections: Most local councils offer a collection service for large furniture and appliances, either free or at low cost. Check your council’s website to book a slot.
- Freecycle and local Facebook groups: Items that won’t sell on mainstream platforms can often be given away locally. Someone will usually collect within a day or two.
- Electronics recycling: Old phones, laptops, and small appliances can be dropped at supermarket collection points or council recycling centres. Do not put them in general waste.
- Skip hire: For large volumes of mixed waste, skip hire is the most practical solution when the above options are not enough.
Packing What You Are Keeping
Once you know what is coming with you, label each box clearly with its destination room and a brief description of contents. This makes unpacking much faster. Pack an essentials box last — containing phone charger, kettle, mugs, toilet paper, a change of clothes, and any medications — and keep it with you rather than in the removal van. You will want access to these things on your first night without having to search through dozens of boxes.
F Smith & Son has been helping households across South London and Surrey move for over 90 years. We are members of the British Association of Removers (BAR) and Which? Trusted Traders. For a free removal quote, contact our team on 020 8688 7063. For more moving advice, visit the F Smith & Son Advice Hub.