Moving isn’t fun. It’s a physical challenge at the very least that can become a major life disruption with severe emotional stress, for some. The majority of people feel overwhelmed with the process and always in need of more time, especially in the final days and hours just before a move-out deadline.
If you’re facing down a future move take comfort in knowing you are not alone. Most of us loathe a home move, but some are better (or more practiced) at it than others. I’ve seen past clients make moves in stride, through planning, prudence and resourcefulness. We can follow their lead by creating a reasonable plan and sticking to it. Part of that work will inevitably include getting rid of unwanted or unneeded stuff. But where? If you’ve never experienced a major move in your current locale you may not know what goes where. This post suggests ways and places to get rid of your unwanted belongings while laying out a realistic timeline for accomplishing a no-stress (or at least low-stress) move.
To find reputable resources for getting rid I consulted with Zero Waste St. Paul’s co-founder Erin Pavlica who is deliberate in her donations. She searches for venues that give directly to people in need and to places that actually recycle and grind down for reuse. Some of her favorites are shared below.
Setting a Timeline
For those who already know the move-out day, start planning well in advance. Create a timeline working backward from that date. Depending on your work/life schedule, how big your home is and how long you’ve been there, start at least 3 months in advance. For a lifetime of accumulation, begin the process six months to a year (or more) ahead of time, and get help. Friends and family members are invaluable resources of course but look in to getting professional assistance too. Local companies like Gentle Transitions specialize in senior residential relocation and offer a range of related services including general sorting and decluttering.
The backward plan works best for people who know the end date — renters particularly, or anyone not planning to sell their current home. If you’re planning to sell soon and are committed to the move, you can still get going. It’s never too soon to start purging. Your preliminary clearing and decluttering will not just help ease your move anxiety, it will also mark a critical step in getting your home ready to sell.
Strategic Purging
Develop a room-by-room timeline. Each week (or day if necessary and doable) pick one room to tackle. Set up receptacles (bins, boxes or bags) for 4 categories — Donations, Recyclables (separate out organics), Hazardous Waste, and Trash. Examine every shelf, cabinet, drawer, and closet. Make an honest decision about what you can and can’t live without. Have you worn or used it in the last year? If not, say good-bye. Once out of sight, you probably won’t even remember owning it.
Recycled and Hazardous Waste
Determine what your county or city recycles curbside (magazines, glass, cardboard, paper, etc.) then sort accordingly — use the trash bin as the last resort. Hazardous waste like paint, aerosols, and chemical cleaners are typically collected at special sites, often at no cost to residents. Save up for a single trip to that site once all items have been collected throughout your home. Learn more about Ramsey County Hazardous Waste sites here; find Hennepin County drop-off sites here.
Check with your city or county to learn about recycling and hazardous waste.
(Or ask a trusted neighbor)
Electronics and Technology
Electronics like old CRT (cathode ray tube) TVs, computer monitors, or anything containing a circuit board cannot be placed in the trash. These items contain materials hazardous to humans, animals and the environment and require special handling for safe disposal. Chances are you have old technology stashed somewhere, most people do. Gather it up and plan a single trip to one of many sites around the Twin Cities that will accept and recycle your load, usually for a small fee. Not sure which to choose? Tech Dump is a favorite of Erin Pavlica who values both their affiliation with Jobs Foundation and pledge to be a Fair Chance Business. (They’re not only working responsibly to protect the environment but also to provide jobs and training for people facing barriers to employment.) I’ve dropped off pieces there too, and would go again. They’re easy to find, friendly and will help you unload.
Avoid illegal dumping
Old TVs like this one contain hazardous materials such as lead, cadmium and mercury — harmful to both humans and the environment.
Trash dumped in alleys becomes the responsibility of that property owner. Respect your neighbors and community by properly disposing of your own unwanted items.
Organics
Be mindful of organic waste* when cleaning out kitchen pantries, cabinets and refrigerators. Unless you maintain your own backyard compost, or already use city recycling, you may need to make a quick trip to a community drop-off site. Check your county or city for organics recycling options — drop-off, curbside pick-up, or both. In Minneapolis residents can request organic waste bins to put alongside trash and regular recycling, or can sign up to use drop-off sites located throughout the city. Ramsey County now has nine free organic drop-off sites (5 in St. Paul) for food scraps and non-recyclable paper. It’s is offering free starter kits at the sites and participating public libraries.
When clearing out cans and boxes of unused and unexpired food or personal items (soaps, detergents, etc.) consider donating to a local food shelf. Keystone, Neighborhood House, Second Harvest Heartland and The Aliveness Project are just a few of dozens located throughout the cities.
One person’s trash is another person’s treasure
Donate usable household items and clothing to places like Joseph’s Coat, Epilepsy Center, St. Vincent De Paul or others.
Donate, Donate, Donate
Designate at least one collection bin for donated usable items such as clothes, kitchen supplies, tools, sheets, blankets, knick-knacks, art, and other household items. Do not throw away things that could be used by another. Several places throughout the Twin Cities accept these types of donations — and many people need them. You will most likely have to deliver goods yourself, however, some organizations will pick up for you at your home. Dozens of Goodwill stores throughout the Twin Cities have fast and easy drive-through donation lanes staffed with workers ready to unload your car. A quick search yields many more spots including Dress for Success, St. Vincent De Paul, Epilepsy Foundation, Hallie Q. Brown Center, Disabled American Veteran and Joseph’s Coat, another favorite of Erin’s for their generous distribution policy — anyone with a photo ID can shop once a week at no cost.
Some nonprofits specialize in collecting and refurbishing specific products for redistribution. Bikes and pianos, for example, are items that can be worked on, given new life and enjoyed by others who may be unable to afford new. Don’t want your bike, piano, (or mattress)? Someone else might. Check with these places for options to donate:
Bikes
Pianos
Call a local school, church or house of worship to donate. They may even pick-up (this worked for a past client of mine.)
Mattresses
Second Chance Recycling - Offers free curbside pick-up for mattresses, boxsprings and batteries (recommended by Erin)
Bridging - Accepts stain-free, rip-free mattresses and other household items for re-use
St. Vincent De Paul - Will pick-up 2+ small to medium furniture items for a tax-deductible monetary gift donation
Sell Your Stuff
Why not make extra money while clearing out? Online sites like Facebook Marketplace, Craig’s List, Letgo, Nextdoor and eBay make it easy if you have time to deal with each transaction. At a minimum you’ll need time for photos (taking and uploading), writing item descriptions and shipping to or meeting up with your buyers. Some are free (Facebook and Craig’s List) and some, like eBay, charge small percentage or per item fees.
Weather and time permitting, a yard sale might also be a good option. With luck you would only have to transport your stuff as far as your front yard or garage, then let buyers take it from there. Advertising on Craig’s List, Facebook and Nextdoor is free and easy. Aligning your dates with a city-wide annual neighborhood sale event could help with traffic and marketing, if it works in your schedule. Be prepared for leftovers once the sale ends. Plan a donation pick-up or drop off soon after to clear the remaining items.
For a whole-house clearing consider hiring an estate sale company to organize, price, advertise and sell for you. There are several throughout the cities including Ebenezer Hand and Hearts, Old is Knew, Esquire Estate Sales, Beehive and English Ivy. Call around to get estimates on pricing and process.
Box it Up
After sorting and purging comes packing up the stuff you want to keep and move. So you’ll need boxes. Where and how do you get them? You have a few options — either buy new, scrounge for used, or rent and return.
Buy New
Tilsner Carton is a local company catering to businesses and corporations but also selling surplus moving boxes to the general public. You can walk in and buy “off the shelf”, no need to order in advance. They’ll even help load them into your car. Quality medium to large boxes run about $1.50 each, assembly required. U-Haul sells medium to large-sized moving boxes priced between $1.50-$2.00 with free in-store pick-up. They’ve also created an online Customer Connect page where you can post and trade used boxes, supplies and even rides. (At last check only 3 postings from Minnesota.) Axman surplus sells inexpensive boxes, though they tend to be mostly small to medium-sized and will require assembly. You can also buy boxes from moving companies and stores like Home Depot, Lowes and Menard’s, usually at slightly steeper prices.
Find Used
Putting a call out on sites like Facebook Marketplace, Craig’s List and Nextdoor is a great way to find free stuff, including cardboard boxes. Often neighbors who’ve recently moved advertise free boxes as a way to pay it forward, and avoid having to break down and recycle. You might also try local restaurants, bars, bookstores and liquor stores to build a supply of smaller sturdy assembled boxes. Gathering free boxes from random places around town takes time, a vehicle and a place to store them, so this may not be an option for some. If it’s too much of a hassle, renting stackable returnables might be a good idea, especially if they offer delivery and pick-up!
Rent
Most big cities around the country now have plastic box rental options for movers. Even giants like U-Haul offer box rentals throughout much of the U.S. (though not yet in Minnesota). Blue Bin Rentals services the Twin Cities market and offers 2-week rentals starting at $139 for 30 boxes. They’ll deliver, pick-up and allow extensions (for a fee) if you need more time. Easy Green Box offers a similar deal for a tad less ($129/30 boxes). College Muscle Movers is another good option for Twin Citizens. Prices there start at $84 for a 1-month rental of 25 MuscleBox Totes, and residents within 15 miles of their Midway warehouse get delivery/pick-up service for free.
Get Started
Moving can be one of the most stressful life events but it can also be an opportunity to ditch unwanted clutter and life patterns to begin anew. Though it may feel overwhelming at times, stay the course and get help when needed! The end is in sight. Before you know it you’ll be settled in your new space, and feeling accomplished having made a fresh start.
Download a printable Purging Checklist here if you need more structure getting started.
Heidi Swanson is a Realtor® based in St. Paul, Minnesota. She writes a blog to share information on variety of topics including buying and selling, market conditions, homeownership trends, local events and more. Reach her at heidi@lyndenrealty.com or 651-503-1540
* For yard waste recycling in Ramsey County check out these 7 collections sites; Hennepin County disposal options here. (Thank you Tina for the correction!)
* Update (1/2020): Ramsey County Organic waste sites continue to be added. Click on map to see all current locations.
Free food scraps collection starter kits and compostable bags are available at Ramsey County Yard Waste collection sites.