For some people, sorting, organizing and letting go of extra things comes naturally. For others, it can feel like a big challenge. When you’re preparing for something major like moving or remodeling, breaking the process into a few simple steps can make it easier. Here are four basic ways to simplify the task and take better control of your belongings.

Planning

Start by creating a space plan. The key to planning is knowing what your new place will look like. When you think about the space you’re moving into and what you’ll actually need there, it becomes much easier to choose what to take along. Many people make the mistake of packing up everything they own, only to find out their smaller home doesn’t have enough room for it all. This turns moving day into a stressful experience and can even lead to extra costs for storage or additional moving trips.

Make time for your downsizing project. If you have a lot of belongings to go through, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The best way to handle it is to set specific days and blocks of time to work through your things. Stay focused by avoiding distractions, tackling one room at a time and finishing that space before moving on to the next. If you have several weeks or months, plan to work in 2–3 hour sessions. When your time is up, you can stop or, if you’re on a roll, keep going and finish faster. If your schedule is tight, don’t hesitate to ask for help from friends, family or even professionals.

Keep your downsizing project organized by setting aside a spot, like a container, closet or corner of a room, to store all your supplies. This can include markers, labels, sticky notes, trash bags, cleaning items and packing materials. You might also want to take “before” photos of the areas you’re working on. Later, you can compare them with “after” photos to see and celebrate the progress you’ve made.

Sorting

When you start going through your belongings, try using the OHIO rule—“Only Handle It Once.” This means that every time you pick something up, decide right away where it belongs. Most of your things can usually be placed into one of these categories:

  • Items you plan to take with you
  • Items you want to donate
  • Items you’d like to give to others
  • Items you should throw away
  • Items you want to sell

The OHIO rule is about making one clear decision for each item so you don’t keep moving it from one pile to another. To stay on track, label your bags, boxes and piles clearly so it’s easy to tell which things are staying with you and which ones are leaving.

Allocating

The things you’re taking with you should match the space plan for your new place. You can either pack them into boxes yourself or leave them for your professional STI Agent to pack later. Items you plan to donate should be listed, if needed for tax purposes and then placed in bags or boxes. Check with local organizations for drop-off locations or pick-up schedules. Gifts for friends, family or neighbors should be clearly labeled and sent out as soon as possible. If you’re giving away large items that need special transport, it might be easier to include them as an extra stop during your full house delivery. Ask your STI Agent for an estimate.

There are different ways to sell items before a move. One option is to hold a garage sale, though it can take a lot of time and effort. If you have many valuable things, hiring an estate sale specialist may be a better choice. Estate sales usually bring in more money than garage sales and the professional handles the cleaning, sorting, pricing, and advertising for you. If you only have a few items worth selling, you could use an online service like eBay. And if you’re not sure how much something is worth but think it may be valuable, getting a professional appraisal can help. In many cases, the appraiser can also guide you to the right buyer.

Try to use up canned food and cleaning supplies before your move. To cut down on clutter and save on moving costs, avoid buying new items until after you’ve settled into your new place. Anything left over will likely end up in the trash or handled by a junk removal service. For hazardous items such as paint, motor oil, computers or printer cartridges, contact your local EPA office or waste management service to find out the proper drop-off process.

Be Realistic

When sorting through things to let go of, try to keep your expectations realistic. Many people hope they have a hidden antique worth a fortune but the truth is, that’s rarely the case. Don’t take it personally if a family member doesn’t want something you’re offering, like a silver tea set—they might not like it or simply don’t have space for it. Remember, not everything you don’t need will be valuable to someone else. Be practical about what you own and try to make the best of it, whether that’s by selling it or donating it to a good cause.

When you handle the process of letting go of things yourself, you get the chance to do it in a way that feels meaningful. You can choose to donate items to charities, clubs or organizations that support causes you care about. Family heirlooms can be given to relatives who will truly value them and appreciate the history they carry.