Your Austin Apartment: Cut the Clutter!

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Cutting the Clutter Before Moving to your Austin Apartment

You’ve found the ideal Austin apartment with the Austin Apartment Classifieds, but before you move – or even pack the first box – give some serious thought to items that may be better left behind.

Is your closet filled with jeans that may fit some day? Are your cupboards filled with mix-matched dishes you never use but can’t bring yourself to throw away?

If the answer is yes, you need to modify your pack rat ways. Start with three boxes. One for garbage, one for charity and the third for items to return (to the library or friends for instance). Handle each item only once and do not rummage through any of the boxes afterwards. Deal with the boxes at day’s end. Whatever you do, do not leave the boxes in your apartment until the next day. Toss while your resolve is strong.

Start by looking at your furniture and consider whether it will fit into your new apartment? Why go to the trouble and expense of moving that old ratty couch?
Take a good, hard look at anything stored away in a closet or in storage lockers. In many cases, those items will simply clutter your next home or fill up your storage locker.
Trash or recycle old magazines and newspapers. Although we all plan to “go through them one day for recipes and tips,” that day rarely comes.
Examine your shoe collection and consider how many of those fabulous black shoes you actually wear. Donate those stunning, but tight stilettos to charity
Organize your wardrobe by season, especially if closet space is at a premium. Plan to store off-season clothes and gear in the hall closet or in the storage locker of your new apartment – but only if you are really going to wear/use them again.
Look at moving as an opportunity to go through paperwork you “saved just in case.” If you have calendars dating back to the 80s, ask yourself why?
Scour your fridge and cupboards for items that have expired or taken up space for years. Donate unopened, non-perishable items to charity – that way you won’t have to move them.
Carefully scour each cabinet and drawer in your bathroom. Throw out used make up and gather expired prescriptions and vitamins for safe disposal.
Go through paperwork repeating the following mantra: “I will only handle each piece of paper once.” Be brutal. File each item appropriately or recycle it.
Use this opportunity to sort your photos and negatives. Put negatives in a fireproof box or store or in a safe deposit box, ideally away from the apartment. Discard photos you don’t like.

If you take the time to clear the cutter before moving day - moving into, and setting up your perfect Austin apartment will be a much more enjoyable process! Start searching the classifieds today to find your perfect apartment.

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