Moving House? A Declutter Checklist Before You Pack

Every item you own costs money to move. It needs packing, a space in the truck or bus, and someone to carry it up the stairs at the other end. Moving is the one time when getting rid of things saves you money twice: once on transport, and again when someone pays you for them.

Whether you are moving across Abeokuta, relocating to another city or travelling abroad, use this checklist.

Four weeks before: decide what is coming

Walk through every room with a notebook and the floor plan of your new place in mind. For each big item, ask:

• Will it fit, and is there a place for it? A three-seater sofa does not fit a room-and-parlour.
• Will it cost more to move than to replace? Old wardrobes, plastic chairs and worn mattresses usually do.
• Will it work there? A generator may be pointless if the new estate has steady power. A gas cooker may be unnecessary if the kitchen comes fitted.

Mark each item: take, sell, give or throw out. If you need help deciding, our room-by-room declutter guide has the questions to ask.

Three weeks before: list the big items

Big items take longest to sell, so list them first: furniture, fridges, freezers, generators, washing machines, air conditioners, TVs and beds.

• Clean and test them before you photograph them. Buyers will check, so use the fridge and generator checklist yourself first.
• Take clear photos in daylight, from several angles, showing any faults honestly.
• Price to sell, not to sit. You have a deadline. Read how to price used items so they actually sell.

On Cluttapp you can list an item in a couple of minutes. A person checks it, buyers pay Cluttapp, and the team sets up a meeting where the buyer checks the item and carries it away. Cluttapp does not deliver, so mention in the description if an item is heavy or upstairs, so the buyer comes prepared.

Two weeks before: clear the smaller things

• Wardrobe. Keep what fits and what you wore this year. Sell barely worn pieces; give the rest.
• Kitchen. Keep one set of what you use daily. Spare blenders, kettles, pots and plates sell well to students.
• Electronics. Old phones, laptops, decoders and speakers lose value every month. Wipe your data and sell them now. Use the used phone checklist to see what buyers will look at.
• Books and papers. Shred old documents with personal details. Sell or donate textbooks.
• Children's things. Outgrown clothes and toys can go. Check which baby items are safe to sell second-hand.

One week before: give away and dispose

Anything not sold by now, decide quickly. Drop usable items at a church, mosque or orphanage, or give them to neighbours and family. Ask your landlord how to dispose of large broken items. Do not pack anything you marked "sell" or "give"; it will only follow you to the new house.

Moving week: final handovers

• Keep a short list of buyers who have paid and when their handover is.
• Leave sold items clean and ready, with chargers, remotes and manuals.
• Pack the essentials box last: documents, chargers, toiletries, a change of clothes and some cash for the first day.

After you move

Unpack with the same rule you used to declutter: if there is no place for it, it does not need to stay. If you discover something you no longer need, start a sell carton in the new house.

Moving to Abeokuta instead?

If you are arriving rather than leaving, you can furnish your new place for a fraction of the new price. See where to buy fairly used items in Abeokuta, or browse what is listed now. Cannot find something? Ask us to find it for you.