Moving is a great opportunity to downsize your stuff. After all, it's easier to get rid of the excess than pack it and move it. Here are four tips to help you declutter your home.

Declutter Tip #1: Start Early

It is easy to procrastinate especially when you don't enjoy packing, however think about as if you are if you are saving yourself the hassle of moving things you will eventually get rid of. Plus, you will save a ton of money by moving less stuff because you will require fewer boxes and a smaller truck.

Moving and packing is not necessarily a fun activity. The early bird gets the worm doesn't just apply to getting out of bed, but also to decluttering and packing.

Declutter Tip #2: Measure Your Spaces

Knowing the exact size of the rooms, shelves, and closets in your new home will help you evaluate how much space you will have in your new place and how much stuff you can keep.

Still not sure what will fit? Try using painters tape to draw out on your floor the parameters of the shelves, drawers or closets you will be moving into. Sometimes, just having a visual that you can actually place your items onto will help you get more clarity on what should be kept or discarded.

For furniture placement, you could start by drawing a scale model of each room in your new home on graph paper. This will give you a visual to see what will fit in each room.

Declutter Tip #3: Start With Small Spaces

Tackling an entire room at a time can seem like a daunting task. Divide and conquer. Choose small areas such as a bedroom closet instead of the whole bedroom. Checking off areas little by little will give you a sense of accomplishment instead of an overwhelming feeling. As a bonus, it is an easy way to track the progress you have made.

Declutter Tip #4: Stock Up on Supplies

Ensure that you have all the materials you will need before you start the decluttering process. There is nothing more aggravating than going to pack a box and realizing that you do not have packing tape. Below is a list of items you may need:

• Cardboard boxes
• Bags or boxes for trash
• Bags or boxes for recycling
• Bags or boxes items that need to be donated
• A Shredder
• Scissors
• Packing Tape
• Painters Tape
• Sharpie
• Water and snacks
• A Spotify list ready to motivate you!

Whether you are downsizing or upgrading, either way there are usually items that do not need to move with you into your new home. Decluttering before a move can save you time and unwanted stress.