We all have a lot of things that we probably don’t need in our lives. It’s easy to let stuff pile up over the years without even noticing. Before you know it, you need extra storage to keep all of your belongings. Whether you’re putting things into storage because you’re moving or simply because you need more space in your home, it’s smart to declutter first. If you don’t know where to start with decluttering before getting warehousing services Japan, we’re here to help. Here are some pre-storage downsizing tips to help you clear your home of clutter.

Simple pre-storage downsizing tips

1. Be strict with yourself

So, the first tip for pre-storage downsizing is being strict with yourself. Everyone is guilty of keeping things for sentimental reasons and not being able to let go of certain items. However, we’re all aware that there are things we’re keeping even though we’ll never use or need them again. Well, it’s time to stop doing that.

Before you put your things in a storage unit, really think about it. Decide whether the things you’re thinking of storing will ever come in handy again. If not, then don’t let them take up space in your home or your storage unit. Remember, the fewer things you’re storing, the smaller storage unit you’ll need. And what does that mean? Well, it means paying less! Just like you would think twice about shipping your heavy lift cargo, you should think twice before storing your belongings.

2. Downsizing the big items

Big pieces of furniture are obviously the things that take up the most space. If you want to be able to get a smaller storage unit, you want to get rid of all the bulky furniture you don’t need to keep. This ties in with the previous downsizing tip – don’t keep the furniture you won’t get any use out of anymore.

If you’re moving to a smaller house and you can’t fit all of your furniture in it, getting short-term storage is a great idea. However, before you throw everything into storage, really think about it and see which items you could live without. You shouldn’t only think about whether you’ll use the items in the future. Apart from that, you also need to see if some furniture items are ready to be thrown out. If some pieces are falling apart or aren’t functioning anymore, get rid of them. You don’t need to store them.

3. Earn money by downsizing

Another one of our pre-storage downsizing tips is selling unneeded things. You don’t need to store everything that can’t fit in your new home. Not only will this enable you to get a smaller and therefore cheaper storage unit, but you’ll also earn some money in the process. So, if you don’t know what to do with all the unwanted things, consider selling them. Whether you’re hiring sea freight forwarders to ship your things or getting a warehouse, you can earn some money beforehand.

• When you’re downsizing before storing things, you might want to consider organizing a garage sale. Gather all the things you want to get rid of and that are still functional. There’s no need to throw them out just because you don’t want them anymore. Some of these things might end up getting a new home and you’ll end up earning money.
• Your other option is selling these things online. There are plenty of websites and Facebook groups where people sell the things they don’t need anymore. So, join them and make some coins.

4. Donate unwanted things

If you’re having trouble saying goodbye to some of your belongings, you might feel better about it if you turn it into a good deed. So, our next pre-storage downsizing tip is donating the things you want to get rid of. There are plenty of places where you could donate your clothes, furniture and practically anything else. Wouldn’t it feel great to help out people in need by downsizing? Websites like The Salvation Army Japan would gladly help you declutter your home and accept your kind donation. You can also invite some friends over and see if they would like to take some of your things.

5. Follow the one-year-rule

A very helpful tip for downsizing if following the one-year-rule. What does that mean? It’s quite simple really. If you haven’t used an item for a whole year, it’s time to say goodbye. This might sound a little strict, but it’s a good way to get rid of things efficiently.

So, if you haven’t worn a shirt for a year or  if you haven’t used a dresser for 365 days, throw them out or find them a new home. If you think about it, this makes a lot of sense. If so much time has passed without you even thinking about a certain item, there’s no reason why you should put it in storage. Just let it go and make space in the storage unit for something you actually need.

Are you ready for downsizing?

So, now that you’ve read some basic pre-storage downsizing tips, you’re ready to get rid of all the unnecessary things you own. This shouldn’t be hard to do if you know what your priorities are. If you want to save some money when getting a storage unit and make some more space in your home, you won’t have an issue getting rid of things you don’t use. Being strict while decluttering can be difficult, so remember that you’re allowed to keep some things for sentimental reasons if they mean a lot to you.