Long-distance movers price your move based on the weight of the items that you are moving. If you have a lot of clutter in your home, you'll end up paying money to move items that you don't even need. Worse, your new home can end up cluttered and disorganized if you don't take the time to perform a whole house cleanup before you move.

The easiest way to declutter your entire home before a long-distance move is to rent a roll-off dumpster. With some time spent beforehand deciding what to keep and what to throw out, you'll be able to quickly and easily throw all of your junk into the dumpster as soon as it's on your property. Here's how to use a roll-off dumpster service before your move in order to cut costs and set your new home up to be free of clutter.

Rent a 20-Yard or 30-Yard Roll-Off Dumpster

Roll-off dumpsters are available in several sizes, from tiny 5-yard dumpsters to gigantic 40-yard ones. When you're throwing out items before a long-distance move, a 20-yard or 30-yard dumpster is typically adequate — these are enough to hold furniture, appliances, clothing, and all sorts of other clutter that you may have accumulated while staying in your home.

Make Sure Your Property Allows Rented Dumpsters and That Your Driveway Is Accessible

If your home is part of a homeowner's association, you'll want to check the bylaws before you rent a dumpster — many will limit the amount of time a roll-off dumpster is allowed on your property or prohibit them altogether without prior authorization from the board. You'll also want to ensure that the roll-off dumpster service's truck can access your property. Maneuvering a large truck on a residential street can be difficult, and trucks need quite a bit of space — if you have neighbors that park on the street, you may want to politely ask them to move their cars temporarily in order to allow the truck to access your driveway.

Focus on Weight First When Considering Which Items to Throw Away

When you're cleaning up before a long-distance move, your main objective is to reduce the overall weight of the items you're moving. Consider throwing out heavy items such as appliances and furniture first, and then move to lighter items such as clothing, cooking utensils, and electronics. If you're moving into a smaller home, remember that you won't have as much space available to place furniture or to store items such as clothing — use this opportunity to toss anything that won't fit into your new home.

Consider Re-Buying Items Instead of Moving Them

In some cases, it's better to re-buy an item rather than take it with you on a move. A long-distance move gives you a fresh start in a new home, making it a good occasion to get rid of items like damaged or outdated furniture. A couch with ripped upholstery or stubborn stains that won't come out, for example, may belong in your roll-off dumpster rather than on the moving truck. If you have furniture that you can't stand looking at, you should give serious consideration to simply throwing it away and buying new furniture once you arrive at your new home.

The same principle applies to items that need to be periodically replaced, like mattresses — they accumulate dead skin cells and other grime over time, which can make them appear dirty and make them uncomfortable to lay on. If the time to replace your mattress is approaching, you should consider simply throwing it out instead of moving it. You'll cut down on the weight of your move and make it less expensive.

Work Quickly to Reduce Dumpster Rental Fees

Roll-off dumpster services charge by the day, so it's important to work quickly once the dumpster is on your property. For maximum efficiency, it's a good idea to mark any items that are going in the trash before you rent a roll-off dumpster. You don't want to waste time by making decisions about what to keep and what to throw out while you're paying for a dumpster rental. You should also call friends and family to help you move — the more people you have working on throwing out your items, the faster the process will be completed.

Decluttering your home using a roll-off dumpster not only makes your long-distance move cheaper, but it stops you from dragging useless items along with you on your move. Before your long-distance move, go through your home and decide what you'll be keeping and what you'll be throwing out. After that, call a roll-off dumpster service, rent a dumpster, and work with friends and family to quickly declutter your home.

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