As someone who works in the removals industry every day, I’ve seen firsthand how much smoother moving becomes when people take the time to declutter before packing. Whether you’re shifting across town or booking removalists in Hunter Valley, the benefits are the same—less to move, less to stress about, and a fresh start in your new place.
Decluttering isn’t just about getting rid of stuff—it’s about making decisions that save you time, money, and energy during an already busy period. It also means you’re not wasting effort packing and unpacking things you no longer use or want.
This guide covers practical steps to help you get on top of things before moving day. From where to start and what to focus on, to how to sort, donate, or dispose of unwanted items, you’ll find everything you need to lighten the load and make your move that little bit easier.
Decluttering properly takes longer than most people expect. It’s not just about quickly tossing out a few old items—it’s about going through everything you own and deciding what’s worth taking to your new home. And when you’re under pressure to pack, it’s easy to shove things into boxes just to get the job done, even if you don’t really want or need them.
That’s why it’s best to start early—ideally four to six weeks before your move. Giving yourself time lets you make better decisions without the last-minute stress. It also gives you space to sell, donate, or responsibly dispose of anything you’re not keeping.
A good approach is to break the job into manageable chunks. Rather than trying to tackle the whole house in a weekend, aim for one room or area at a time. For example:
You don’t need to follow that plan exactly, but having a rough structure helps you stay on track. Even setting aside just 30 minutes a day can make a big difference by the time moving day rolls around.
Before you dive into decluttering, it helps to set yourself up with a simple system and the right gear. Having a clear plan makes the process smoother and saves you from constantly re-handling the same items.
Start by setting up clearly labelled boxes or bags for:
You can also use coloured sticky notes or masking tape to mark larger items like furniture, which are harder to move in and out of piles.
Having these ready from the start means you can pack as you go—a great way to save time once your decisions are made.
If you’re planning to donate or sell items, it’s also a good idea to set a deadline for getting them out of the house. That way, they don’t sit around and get mixed back into the “keep” pile.
Decluttering is much easier when you focus on one room or space at a time. It keeps the process manageable and helps you make faster decisions because you're not jumping between categories. Start with the areas that have the least emotional attachment—this gives you a sense of progress early on and builds momentum.
Here are some practical tips for each part of the house:
Decluttering room by room makes the process feel far less overwhelming—and with each completed space, you'll see real progress and gain more space to work in.
Letting go of things isn’t always easy—especially if they’ve been in your home for years or hold sentimental value. But moving house is the perfect time to reassess what really matters and what’s just taking up space.
Here are some practical ways to make those tough decisions a little easier:
When you’re unsure about something, try these:
If the answer is no, it might be time to let it go.
Many people hold onto gifts they’ve never used or expensive items they regret buying. But keeping something out of guilt doesn’t give it value—it just adds to the clutter. Letting it go doesn’t mean you didn’t appreciate it; it just means it’s no longer useful to you.
Sentimental items can be the hardest to part with. Set a boundary for how much space you’ll give them—like one small box or one shelf. This helps you focus on keeping the most meaningful things, rather than everything with a memory attached to it.
If you’re stuck on a decision, put it aside and revisit it the next day. Often, time gives clarity. Just don’t use this as a way to avoid the decision altogether—set a deadline and stick to it.
Still unsure? Pack it in a clearly labelled box and revisit it after the move. If you didn’t miss it or need it in your first few months, you probably don’t need to keep it.
Decluttering is part practical, part emotional—but it gets easier the more you do it. Keep your focus on what’s ahead: a clean, fresh start in your new space.
Once you’ve sorted through your things and decided what’s not coming with you, the next step is getting it out of the house in a useful or responsible way. Whether it’s in good condition or ready for the bin, there are better options than just piling it all on the kerb.
If you’ve got furniture, appliances, clothes, or electronics that are still in decent shape, consider selling them to make a bit of money before the move.
Here are a few ways to go about it:
Tips for quick sales:
If you’d rather give items away, donating is a great option—and it saves things from going to waste.
Places to consider:
Make sure items are clean and in usable condition. Most charities can’t accept broken or damaged goods.
Some items just aren’t worth keeping, donating, or selling—but that doesn’t mean they should end up in landfill without thought.
Options for disposal:
If you’re using removalists, keep in mind that most won’t take hazardous materials or unwanted junk—so it’s best to clear these out ahead of time.
Taking the time to properly sell, donate, or dispose of your unwanted items can help others, reduce waste, and give you a clearer space to focus on your move.
Once you’ve sorted through a room and decided what to keep, it makes sense to pack it straight away. Decluttering and packing at the same time not only saves effort later, but also helps prevent cleaned-out spaces from becoming cluttered again.
Keep moving boxes, packing tape, markers, and labels on hand while you declutter. As soon as you’ve decided to keep something, wrap it (if needed), pack it, and label the box clearly with:
This also gives you a head start and helps avoid the panic of last-minute packing.
Labelling is one of the best things you can do to stay organised during a move. Use a permanent marker and write on multiple sides of the box if you can. You can also use coloured tape or stickers to match boxes to rooms (e.g. blue for kitchen, green for bedroom).
As you pack, set aside a clearly marked “Essentials” box or bag with everything you’ll need in the first day or two after moving. This might include:
This box should be packed last and moved first—either with you in the car or easily accessible in the moving truck.
It’s tempting to cram in as much as possible to reduce the number of boxes, but heavy boxes can be unsafe to lift. Stick to a mix of heavy and light items and keep weight manageable—especially if stairs are involved at either property.
Decluttering and packing together is an efficient way to keep momentum and avoid revisiting the same items multiple times. It’s also a great way to visually track your progress—empty rooms and labelled boxes mean you’re getting closer to the finish line.
Moving isn’t a one-person job, and neither is decluttering. Whether you're living with family, housemates, or a partner, involving everyone helps lighten the load and speeds things up. It also gives everyone a sense of ownership and responsibility for the move.
Start by giving each person a clear area or task based on what makes sense:
If someone’s overwhelmed, suggest they start with a small area (like a desk drawer or bathroom cupboard) to ease into it.
Decluttering doesn’t have to be a drag. Try:
You could even make a game out of it with kids: who can fill a donate box the fastest?
Set up a donation station or drop zone somewhere out of the way—like the garage or hallway. As people declutter, they can bring their “donate” or “throw away” items here so you can deal with them in batches.
If you’re on a timeline, make sure everyone’s aware of the schedule. Share the moving date and a rough plan for what needs to be done each week so no one’s left scrambling at the last minute.
Getting everyone involved doesn’t just make things easier—it also helps avoid arguments about what stays and what goes. Everyone gets a say in what they bring to the new place, and you avoid being the only one responsible for all the sorting and decision-making.
Even with the best intentions, it’s easy to fall into habits that slow you down or undo your progress. Knowing what to watch out for can save you a lot of time and frustration as you prepare for moving day.
We’ve all done it—kept that extra cable, spare part, or random kitchen gadget just in case it’s useful one day. But more often than not, these things collect dust and take up space. If you haven’t used it in over a year and can’t clearly see when you will, it’s probably time to let it go.
Sentimental items are the hardest to deal with, so don’t start there. Beginning with emotional or memory-filled belongings can slow your momentum and drain your energy. Instead, tackle easy wins first—like clothes, pantry items, or bathroom supplies—and save the tricky stuff for later.
Trying to declutter randomly or without a plan usually leads to more mess than progress. If you’re pulling everything out at once without sorting as you go, it can get overwhelming fast. Use the sorting system from earlier (Keep, Donate, Sell, Throw Away, Recycle) and tackle one space at a time.
Decluttering isn’t finished until the unwanted items are actually out of your home. Leaving donate or sell piles sitting around too long can lead to second-guessing—or they may just end up coming with you by mistake. Set firm deadlines to drop things off or arrange pickups.
It’s easy to focus only on physical belongings, but digital clutter and paperwork can pile up too. Go through your filing cabinets, shred what you don’t need, and organise the rest. Back up important digital files and delete anything you no longer need from old devices.
Avoiding these common pitfalls will keep your decluttering efforts productive and purposeful. Every decision you make now saves you time on moving day—and in the weeks that follow when you’re settling into your new space.
Even if you’ve done a thorough job decluttering in the weeks leading up to the move, there are always a few things left to deal with at the last minute. These are usually items you’ve been using right up until moving day—or things that were easy to overlook.
This final sweep ensures you’re not packing (or moving) anything unnecessary.
Make sure your essentials box is packed and ready. Include:
This box should travel with you or be loaded last so it’s the first thing you can access in your new home.
These final steps help ensure you don’t bring any last-minute clutter with you and that you’re properly prepared for your first day or two after the move—without needing to tear through boxes to find what you need.
Decluttering before moving day isn’t just a nice idea—it’s one of the most practical things you can do to make your move easier, faster, and far less stressful. By starting early, working room by room, and making confident decisions about what stays and what goes, you’ll reduce the volume of stuff you have to pack, move, and unpack.
Whether you’re tackling a local move or booking professional removalists, taking the time to declutter can make the whole process more manageable. It’s also a great way to start fresh in your new home—surrounded only by the things you use, need, and value.
If there’s one takeaway, it’s this: don’t wait until the last minute. A bit of planning and honest sorting now will save you time and hassle later—and you’ll thank yourself when you’re settling into a clutter-free new space.
