Why and How You Should Declutter Your Home Before Serious Renovations
A serious home renovation is a big undertaking that has the power to transform your space and your lifestyle. Your new home will become more functional as well as more aesthetically pleasing. But because of how substantial the planned work may be, it is essential to prepare properly ahead of time. One of the best steps that you can take to prepare your home and belongings for the experience of renovating is to declutter.
The Importance of Decluttering
Your contractors generally need to have a clean slate to work with. This means that all furniture, home décor, and other items need to be removed from the work area.
In many cases, you will be able to store items in your garage or in a spare room; however, there may be cases where it is necessary to rent out a storage unit for your furniture and other possessions. If you decide that you do need a storage unit, make sure to get the appropriate type for the items you are storing. Salt Lake Stor-N-Lock explains, “If you plan to store items that are susceptible to fluctuating temperatures, such as family heirlooms, electronics, wood or leather furniture or important paper documents, you will want to search for storage units with climate control.”
When you spend time decluttering, you can eliminate the number of items that need to be moved, packed, and stored. You also eliminate the number of items that need to be unpacked after the renovation project is completed. While this saves you time and energy, it also can save money by reducing the size of the storage unit that you need to rent as well as the number of boxes and storage bins that you need to buy.
How to Declutter
To declutter your home, you need to essentially sort through all of your items one by one. Only keep items that you will have a need for after the renovation is completed. For example, you may not need all of your home décor if you plan to redecorate after the work is done.
When you begin the process of decluttering, decide whether each item should be kept, thrown away, donated, or sold. It can be hard to decide what to keep and what to get rid of. Rachel Jones recommends that you “Look carefully at the items in front of you. Pull out just the ones that you know you absolutely want to see them in your new home. These are things that you use regularly or love.” When that’s done, look at what’s left. If the items in front of you don’t seem worth the effort of packing and moving, then it’s time to let them go.
If you plan to keep items, ensure that you pack them smartly and safely. This means packing items together that belong in the same room, and wrapping delicate items in protective bubble wrap or wrapping paper. Place the heaviest items in the bottom of each box or bin, and place the heaviest boxes and bins at the bottom when stacking them. Be sure to clearly label all boxes and bins using detailed descriptions about what the contents are and where they belong. This will come in handy, because there is always a chance that you may need to access some of your stored items before the renovation project has been completed, and because it will make moving your items back inside that much easier.
A serious home renovation essentially requires you to empty the work area of all personal items. You will need to move everything out of this space just as you would if you were moving into a new home. With this in mind, it makes sense to thoroughly declutter before packing up your belongings.
