Transition Resources

Overnight Checklist

Toiletries

Oral Care Products
Deodorant
Personal Hygiene Products
Makeup
Towels/Robe

Clothing

Undergarments
Pajamas
Change of Clothes
Shoes
Jacket/Coat/Sweater

Household Essentials

Snacks
Cookwear
Dishes/Silverwear
Utensils/can opener
Ingredients
Coffee/Tea

Documentation

Moving Document/Floor Plan
Home Sale Documents
Checkbook
Financial Documents
Personal Identification

Health and Safety

First Aid Kit (band aids, pain relievers)
Prescription medications and supplements
Glasses and hearing aids

Miscellaneous

Paper goods
Phone charger
iPad/Laptop

What to Get Rid of as you Right Size

Prioritize Discarding what you Don't Need

Letting go of outdated, unneeded, or expired possessions is at the top of many people’s to-do lists. It’s also one of those tasks that can be such a headache that it never gets checked off those to-do lists. The perfect time to tackle this job is while you’re preparing for a move. Now is the time to downsize and declutter.

These are all the items you should consider discarding before your move, divided up into easy-to-understand categories:

Stuff you don’t use anymore.

Just because you’ve had something for a long time doesn’t mean you need to hold onto it. Some things just need to go, even if they were well-loved in their time. When you’re working through you downsize, focus on anything you don’t have to use anymore, such as:

Expired prescriptions and other medications
Clothes and shoes that no longer fit.
Anything that you can’t remember the last time you picked up or used.
Old electronics like unused telephones, VHS players or outdated routers or cords
Linens that are worn out
Any paperwork, bills or receipts that aren’t absolutely necessary.
Stuff you have too much of

Don't Let The Clutter Build

Some things tend to accumulate… and accumulate… over time. Usually, there’s a (relatively) logical explanation as to why these things keep multiplying. Sure, they’re things you need! Yeah, they’re things that are easy to buy and forget about. Wow, that was quite a sale! Or maybe they were even gifts! There are reasons why you seem to keep collecting stuff. However, if you’re honest, you may find that you have one or two too many of these accumulating things. Or three too many. Or 20 too many.

Moving is a perfect time to put a stop to the endless accruing of things you “need.” Cut down to the essentials during your downsize by re-homing your extra:

Coffee mugs
Hotel shampoo and conditioner bottles
Serving dishes
Miscellaneous junk drawer stuff
Spices
Water bottles
Garage or closet knick-knacks you don’t even look at
Pens and pencils

Look for What You Didn't Even Know You Had

Stuff you didn’t even know you had.

While you’re going through things before your move, you’re likely to discover items you didn’t know you had. Don’t fall for the excitement of discovery. Most of the time, there’s a reason you forgot about these things–and they’re perfect targets for your downsize. Sell or rehome each of the following:

Books you’ve never read
Appliances you forgot about
Items you hope to return to your children from their childhood
Seasonal items that take up more space than they’re worth
Gifts you were given but never asked for
Things that are broken – we understand you planned on fixing it, but it’s okay to admit you’ll likely never get around to it

Stuff that won’t fit in your new home.

Sometimes things that fit in one space won’t serve the same purpose in another. Whether it’s because of their size, shape or use, it’s time to downsize! A new home is a chance at a new start. These sorts of things include:

Awkwardly-shaped furniture
Climate-specific items
Items that don’t fit with your new space – this can include pool toys, gardening tools, air filters and curtains

Now that you know exactly what to get rid of, the task of doing it is less daunting.

Resources for Your Transition