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Start four to six weeks before your move. Work one room at a time, sort everything into keep, sell, donate, store or toss, and start with the rooms you use least, like the garage, attic and guest room. Measure your new home first so you only keep what will fit.
Every box you do not pack is one less box to carry, load, unload and unpack. Decluttering before a move is the single easiest way to make moving day shorter and calmer, and it means you start fresh in your new home instead of unpacking things you stopped using years ago.
This guide walks through the order we suggest, room by room, plus what to do with the things you decide not to keep. It works whether you are moving across Ocala, into The Villages or out of state.
The biggest mistake people make is pulling everything out of every closet at once. You end up living in the mess for weeks. Instead, give yourself a simple system before you touch a single drawer.
Rule of thumb: if you have not used it in a year and it would not fit easily in your new floor plan, it probably does not need to come with you.
Four to six weeks out is a comfortable window for most homes. If you are leaving a larger house or have a full garage, give yourself eight weeks. Fall and winter are busy months in Central Florida as seasonal residents arrive, so booking help early matters too.
Here is a simple schedule that keeps the work spread out:
Decluttering is tiring, mostly because of the number of small decisions. A few habits keep you moving.
Work from the least-used spaces toward the rooms you live in every day. That way the hardest decisions come early, while you still have energy and time.
These spaces hold the most forgotten items, and they are often the heaviest. If the job is bigger than a weekend, our garage, shed and attic clean-out service can sort and remove it for you.
Once a room is sorted, move fast so the piles do not creep back into the house.
If your closing dates do not line up, or you are not ready to let some things go, a mobile storage container gives you room to breathe. It can sit at your home while you load it or be kept in a secure facility until your new place is ready.
Have more than you can sort on your own? Our crews can haul it, store it or move it.
Many of our customers are moving from a larger home up north or across town into a smaller home, often in The Villages. Downsizing means harder choices, so a few extra steps help.
If you are heading to The Villages, our room-by-room checklist for moving to The Villages covers what to plan for in a Villages home, from the lanai to the golf cart garage.
Photos, letters, children’s artwork and family pieces are the hardest things to sort, and they slow everything else down if you mix them in. Set them aside in one box per room as you go, then sit down with them on their own once the rest of the house is done.
Once the boxes are out, the house still needs to be left empty and clean. A move-out clean-out takes care of the last items, leftover furniture and anything the buyers or landlord do not want, so you can hand over the keys and go.
Most homes take four to six weekends if you work one room at a time. A full garage, attic or a larger family home can take longer, so give yourself eight weeks if you can.
If you can, yes. A quote is based on what is actually moving, so sorting first gives you a clearer picture. If you are short on time, tell us what you plan to get rid of and we will plan around it.
Hazardous items like paint, gasoline, propane, chemicals and fuel cannot go on a moving truck. Dispose of these properly before moving day.
Yes. Our clean-out crews can remove furniture, household goods, garage and attic contents and more, and coordinate donation and responsible disposal.
A family-run Florida moving company since 1988, with locations in Ocala, Leesburg and St. Augustine Beach. Our own trained crews handle local, long distance and senior moves, packing, clean-outs and storage across The Villages, Ocala, Leesburg and St. Augustine.
USDOT 4348858 · MC 1700955 · FL Mover Reg. IM3383
Tell us what you are keeping and what needs to go. We will plan the move, the clean-out or both, and send a free quote.
1621 NE 2nd St, Suite 401
Ocala, FL 34470
940 State Road 16, St Augustine Beach, FL 32084
31641 Progress Rd
Leesburg FL 34749
Monday – Sunday
Open 24 hours
Email: Debbie@villagermover.com
Phone : (352) 502-6901
Email: nate@villagemover.com
Phone : (352) 229-4684
