As you prepare for a move, one of the largest and most time-consuming parts of the process is packing. Getting all your belongings together and safely packed up for transport is a task that is understandably dreaded by many, as it requires a lot of energy and organization.
Before you get ahead of yourself and start placing everything in boxes, though, it’s important to consider if you even want to keep everything in your house. When you relocate to a new home, it serves as a fresh start, and a simple way to feel fresh in your new home is to donate some of your belongings.
Should I Donate Items Before Moving?
Over the years, most of us realize that some of the items we’ve accumulated are no longer wanted or needed. Perhaps some items have been pushed to the back of closets or cabinets and completely forgotten about, never to be used again.
Maybe some of your clothing no longer gets the wear it once did. Whatever the case may be, donating these forgotten items is an excellent way to save yourself some time on packing, make your new space neater, and give your belongings a new home with someone who can get more use out of them. Keep reading to discover how you can donate your household items prior to your move!
How to Declutter Your Things Before a Move
First, you should start by decluttering. What does this mean? A declutter is a process where you clean your home and eliminate any unwanted items. You can do so by donating, selling, or throwing away these belongings.
In this article, we’ll focus on donating — the best way to give your items a new home. Start simple with your decluttering process. Look in your closets, cabinets, drawers, garage, or any other place where items may be stored and forgotten. Even if we intend to use something, out of sight truly can be out of mind sometimes, so these areas become the homes to many unneeded items in the home.
Although it may be difficult to get rid of items, especially if you had every intention of using them regularly when you acquired them, you will be better off eliminating the item if you don’t really use it.
A great way to discern what you really use is to ask yourself if you’ve used an item in the last 90 days or if you plan on using it in the next 90 days. If you’re struggling to get rid of things, call on a friend or family member to help you gain some objectivity about what you really need in your home.
How to Donate Furniture Before Moving
Once you’ve determined what you no longer want or need, it’s time to start the process of finding places to donate. Let’s start big: furniture. If you have furniture items that you plan to get rid of before moving to your new home, you might feel daunted about where to donate them or even how to transport them there if they’re large or heavy.
For this reason, it’s important to do some research regarding your local charities, as some of these places will actually send a representative to pick up these larger items. If you’re able to transport furniture items yourself to your local charity or secondhand shop, be sure to reach out first and see if they accept large items. If they do, then you’re in luck, and your furniture is well on its way to finding a new loving home.
How to Donate Clothing Before a Move
Next on our list of items to donate is clothes. Luckily, there are many places to donate your clothes as long as they are in decent condition, and you can feel good about providing clothes to people who need them.
Larger organizations like Goodwill are excellent for donating clothes, and local charities in your area are another great option. If you can find a homeless shelter or outreach center in your community that accepts gently used clothing, this is a wonderful way to contribute to your area and lend a helping hand.
Some organizations also collect clothes specifically for low-income individuals who need business professional clothing. Finding places with a strong mission is an incredible way to contribute.
How to Donate Food Before Moving
Don’t forget to go through your pantry prior to your relocation! Canned foods, rice, pasta, peanut butter, cooking oils, crackers, nuts, cereal, and other nonperishable items are all great candidates for food donation if they are within their expiration date without any dents or damage to their packaging.
No matter where you live, there are undoubtedly plenty of food banks in your area that could use the extra food to give to people in need.
Additionally, if you have extra pet food that won’t be used, consider donating to a local animal shelter if your food bank won’t take it. These steps ensure that your food items won’t go to waste.
Tax Deductions for Moving
After donating, there’s actually an added perk — tax deductions. Once you’ve completed drop-off to your local charities, they should provide you with a receipt. When tax season rolls around, you can actually use these receipts to get a deduction on your taxes. This is just another added benefit on top of the already wonderful option to donate your belongings.
Best Ways to Throw Out Things Before a Move
If something isn’t in great condition or a charity or secondhand shop simply won’t take it, you might feel like you’re forced to trash it. However, the best option in this scenario is to find the proper way to recycle the item.
If you are unsure about how to properly recycle the item in question, that’s okay! Look to your local recycling centers or other authorities on recycling specific items and materials. They can provide expert insight on the best way to recycle your items and ensure you do your part in giving back to our earth.
Looking for Long Island Movers?
Once you’ve fully decluttered and donated everything you needed to, you’re in good shape to pack for your move.
Looking for Long Island moving companies to help you get to your new home? Count on Austin Moving & Storage, your premier Long Island movers.
We provide our customers with trusted moving, packing, and storage solutions to enhance their moving experience and ensure they have their best move yet. Request a free quote online today, and find out how Austin’s services can transform your relocation!