What to Do When You Can’t Move Everything

Your next move awaits, and there’s a problem. Not everything you own is going to fit in your new home or your moving vehicle. No need to stress, this is a common issue that many families face when relocating and it may even act as a blessing in disguise. Your upcoming move is an opportune time to consider what you really need and want in your life.

You have several options before you. What you choose to do with the things that you can’t take along will depend on your budget, time constraints, and how attached you are to certain belongings. Whatever you decide to do should make your final move more manageable.

Here are some ideas for when you can’t move everything:

The first thing you should do when you realize that you can’t move everything is determine what must stay and what must go. Now is the time to take inventory, sort through your belongings, and downsize. 

When you downsize, you can sort your belongings into three categories:

• Keep: These items will come with you on the move. You use these items often or could not possibly replace them.

• Donate, Sell, or Give Away: While these items are in good condition and could potentially be used by someone else, you have determined that you do not personally need them. 

• Discard: These items are destined for the trash or recycling as they are not in good condition, or they would be meaningless to another person.

Be honest with yourself about what you use. Don’t keep something on hand just in case if you can’t foresee using it again in the immediate future. 

Some things to keep in mind as you sort through your belongings:

When was the last time you used this item and when do you expect to use it again?

If it has been a year or more since you last used the item and you do not foresee needing it again within the next year, then it may be time to let the item go. 

How much space does this item occupy?

Larger, bulkier items will naturally need to be evaluated first. Offloading these bigger items will save the most space. Ask yourself if you can make do with a smaller replacement if the item is a household essential.

How easily is this item replaced?

Items that hold significant sentimental value might be irreplaceable, but there are also likely items in your collection that can easily be obtained again in the future.

What do you feel as you consider this item?

If an item brings you joy to keep, then that is a point in its favor. However, if you feel indifferent towards an item or if it causes you significant emotional pain, you should certainly consider getting rid of that item.

Can you preserve this item digitally or just take a piece of it?

Some sentimental items like old children’s craft projects or hand-me-down furniture can be preserved digitally or upcycled into a new creation. 

Once you have sorted through your belongings and determined what should stay and what should go, the next part of your process will be to determine how you keep and get rid of your belongings.

One of the most effective ways to offload many items you no longer want is to hold a garage or yard sale before your move date. Organizing a garage sale takes a lot of time and energy so carefully consider your schedule before you commit to going through the process. Schedule your sale on a weekend, obtain any necessary municipal permits, and be sure to advertise your sale in local interest groups like newspapers or neighborhood websites. 

It’s very important to only attempt to sell items that you believe can be used again by another person. These are working appliances, home goods in fair condition, and media like books and DVDs that can still be watched or read. If an item is truly junk, then do not attempt to sell or donate it. Just recycle or trash as appropriate.

Set fair pricing for each of your items but be willing to be flexible. While making a great deal of money is nice, the object of your sale is to offload your excess items to people who will need and use them. Toward the end of your garage sale day, if you still have items then cut prices or let buyers know you are willing to accept offers. 

At the end of your sale day if you still have some usable items left you can make a donation run. That way when your garage sale is over, you will have made some extra cash and have no leftover items to deal with.

Should you decide to keep more items than you are able to physically take with you then it might be time to reach out for help.

If the items you are looking to keep are sentimental in nature, such as an antique furniture piece from a grandparent, you might ask if other family members would be willing to hang onto the pieces for you. This is a great route to try if there are other members of your family who are invested in keeping the items. 

It’s also possible a friend or family member of yours has extra storage space in their basement, garage, or attic that they might be willing to let you use for free or rent at a discount. Keep in mind the nature of the items you’re looking to store, how long they require storage, and the climate conditions of the space you’d be storing them in. Hardy items can likely be put in an attic for an indefinite period, but for your more delicate and temperature-sensitive items you should consider professional storage options.

When you cannot move everything and you have determined you want to keep many of your items, then you may need to rent a storage unit. It is in your best interest to rent a unit close to your new home so that you can access your items again as needed.

Items like electronics, artwork, and certain pieces of furniture may need to be stored in a climate-controlled unit to ensure they remain preserved during their time in storage. If you desire easy access to your items, then you may choose a drive-up storage unit. Research your options and think about your access needs prior to signing a contract with any self-storage company. 

Consider your budget and the length of time you believe the items will be in storage before you pack all your items away. Depending on how many months or years the items will be in storage, it may be more cost effective to replace the items rather than pay rent on them every month. Of course, only you can determine an item’s sentimental value.

Sometimes, you are absolutely certain something is just trash. Whether that’s a broken appliance, an old smelly mattress, or hazardous refuse, the choice to offload might have been clear but the means to get rid of it posed a problem.

Call up a junk removal company. They can come in, pick up the junk, and cart it far away. Depending on the company you choose, some of them can take a look at your items and determine what can be recycled, what needs special disposal, what can be donated, and what is unfortunately destined for the landfill.

A good junk removal company can get a quote online or by phone, and then you can schedule your removal. They will come during a window on your preferred date and then you can just wave goodbye to your old bulk trash items.

Junk.com offers same-day junk removal including property cleanouts. Junk.com will haul away old furniture, appliances, scrap metal, electronics, and more. Book now to get a team out to appraise your junk.

Now that you’ve offloaded the excess, it’s time to set out on your big adventure in your next home. Letting go might have proved difficult at points, but you’ll be happier and feeling lighter without the things that you don’t really need. Once all the surplus stuff and extra junk has been carted away, you will find your entire move so much more manageable.  

When you’re ready to make your move, call on the experts at All My Sons Moving & Storage to help you take care of all your moving needs. Being in the business of moving for almost 30 years, we understand all the ins and outs of moving when you can’t move everything. Our team offers everything from professional packing to extra storage space, so let our company handle all the heavy lifting for your move. Give your local All My Sons Moving & Storage location a call or get a quote online to get started on your stress-less relocation.