7 Things You Should Definitely Toss Before You Move

Having a hard time with the pre-move purge? We’re here to help. Whether you’re downsizing or simply looking to de-junk, there are plenty of good reasons to cut your clutter in half before a move. For starters, moving less stuff means an easier and less expensive relocation experience for you. You won’t have to waste as much time unpacking, and you may be able to avoid renting a storage unit as well. So as you begin the packing process, make sure you definitely toss these 7 items before you move.

Junky coffee mugs

Thankfully, moving means a fresh start in a new kitchen – without the clutter of half-chipped mugs to weigh you down. If you find your kitchen cupboards are overwhelmed with junky coffee mugs, you’re not alone! Many people are guilty of collecting wayyy too many mugs while on vacations and in airports. If you’re one of these people, I recommend ditching the mugs you no longer need by donating them or trashing them responsibly.

 

Clothing you haven’t worn for years

Stop and look around your closet. If you find yourself surrounded by the ghost of fashion past, it may be time to do some serious purging. While letting go of old clothing and accessories can be a difficult and time consuming process, it’s one of the single best ways to cut down on junk (and moving expenses). After all, clothing takes up a lot of room in your moving boxes and in your drawers. When deciding on what to keep and what to toss, keep these questions in mind: Have you worn it in the last year? Is it still on-trend? Does it fit? Is it in good condition? If the answer is a resounding “no,” then ditch the item of clothing before the move. Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, and The Salvation Army are all good places to donate your clothing.

Old decorative pillows

One easy way to cut down on clutter is toss your extensive decorative pillow collection. Over the years, many homeowners collect inexpensive throw pillows from places like Target, TJ Maxx and others. Unless you’re planning on maintaining the same color and decor scheme in your new home, toss your old pillows to make way for new ones before the move. Donation sites, such as Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore and Goodwill will happily accept pillows in good shape.

Unwanted DVDs and CDs

If your drawers and shelves are jam-packed with old DVDs and CDs, it may be time to let go of these dated items. By eliminating unused DVDs and CDs, you’ll save room for items you can actually use in the future. Movies, TV shows, and music can now be streamed at the click of a button. Your collection probably won’t serve much of a purpose in your new home anyway. To get rid of old DVDs and CDs, I recommend either selling them to an online reseller, giving them away or hosting a garage sale.

Books

Those readers guilty of library hoarding (guilty!) have more books than they know what to do with. And while many of these may be coming with you on the move, some of those dust-ridden books will have to go. Books no longer serving a purpose in your life or your new home should be donated, given away or sold before you move.

Old bath products

From empty shampoo bottles to 5-year-old hand lotions, it’s time to let go of all of your old bath products. I recommend trashing anything expired or you no longer use. Don’t forget to take a look at your old makeup items, soaps and washcloths as well.

Old furniture

Whether you’re downsizing or taking a minimal approach, you’ll need to kick your unused furnishings to the curb. To avoid having your new home junked up with old couches, chairs and desks, I strongly encourage you to either store, sell or give away unnecessary furniture. Look into having your local Habitat for Humanity pick up the furniture from your house, or try hosting a garage sale to sell belongings still in good condition.
Once you’ve properly disposed of all of your unused, out-of-date and unnecessary belongings, you’ll need to start planning for the actual relocation itself. For help finding the right movers for the job, check out Moving.com’s extensive network of reputable and reliable movers – all licensed and insured. Good luck and happy moving!

The House Painting Myths You Have to Stop Believing Immediately

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If you own a home, there's a pretty good chance you've wielded a paintbrush a time or two. And even if you haven't, chances are that you will eventually.

It might seem like picking up a paintbrush and slapping some paint on the walls is the most basic, no-directions-needed, DIY project you can do, but it's not. Plenty of painting fails will put that rumor to bed. It turns out, there's a lot more to it than you might have imagined.
But which house painting principles do you really need to pay attention to? We spoke with the experts and asked them to dispel the myths most people believe—but definitely shouldn't.

Dark colors make a room look small

Believe it or not, there's really no rule that says you have to use light paint colors in small rooms. If dark colors are your thing, go for it—in moderation.
Real estate agent Ashley Blackmore with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Western Colorado Properties has seen lots of color schemes, and she says moody hues can work.
"If you use a dark color for an accent wall, it can truly make the home look much larger by adding variation to the eye," she says.

You need two coats of paint

If you ask anyone on the street how many coats of paint a typical wall needs, 9 times out of 10 they'll tell you the answer is two. That's just an unwritten rule of painting that we all blindly follow. Unfortunately, it's not a rule you can count on.
"This is not true," says Kayla Martin, owner of ACME Home Interiors. "If you apply primer and are using a quality brand of paint, you can absolutely get away with one coat of paint."
Blackmore, on the other hand, has seen it go the other way as well.
"This depends on what type of paint product you are using and if the room is prepped for it," she says. "I have found sometimes we've needed to do six coats of paint on walls that were previously a darker color."

You don't need primer

If you're one of the homeowners who think primer is an optional step when painting, we're sorry to tell you that's just a myth.
"In order for your project to look like it was done professionally, you absolutely need to use primer," says Martin. "It helps make the paint job look smooth and allows the paint to adhere to the wall."

Using primer means you don't have to clean the walls

Since dirty walls won't hold on to the paint properly, your walls need to be cleaned with soap and water before you paint. But there's a dirty rumor going around that a good primer makes that step unnecessary. Don't heed it, Martin says.
"Painting on dirty, dusty, greasy walls will make it very difficult for the paint to adhere to the surface—even primer," she explains. "Cleaning your walls will also help provide a professional look to your paint job."

Your trim should always be white

It's very common to see white trim on walls—no matter what color the walls are—but home decor and DIY blogger Morgan McBride of Charleston Crafted says it doesn't have to be that way. In fact, extending your wall color to your trim (both the top and the bottom) can make the walls look taller and emphasize the details in your moldings.  "It can make a huge impact!" McBride says.

Glossy paint is more durable

It's long been said that glossy or satin paint finishes are best for rooms that get a lot of moisture, like bathrooms. They're also often the paint of choice for walls that may get messy, like in kitchens or kid's rooms, since they're easier to clean.
But thanks to improvements in paint quality, McBride says most paints are now durable enough for those areas—meaning you can choose any finish you want and know you won't be stuck with fingerprints or peeling paint just a few months down the road.

Don't paint before you sell

It may seem like a waste of time to paint your walls before you move. After all, the new owners will probably just change the colors when they move in, right?
But Tonya Bruin, CEO of renovation company To Do-Done, says that's usually not true: "This is always a good idea, as it increases the home's selling value since a lot of people don't want to invest any more time, effort, or money in doing it themselves."

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By Whitney Coy | Mar 12, 2019