So you’ve sold your old house and you’re moving to a new one. Congratulations are, of course, due. But once all the excitement has quietened down to a simmer, you realise that now comes the dreaded part of packing up your belongings, labelling all the boxes, and scheduling the big day with the removals company.

While our first reaction is to try and take everything with us to our new house, this might be a good opportunity to get rid of the stuff you don’t really need.

It’s really not worth the time and effort to huff and puff with things that you don’t have any intention of using again

Of course, we’re not talking about things that you simply cannot take with you – such as the trees in your garden – or those that you accidentally forget behind you. The latter items might range from mobile phone chargers to a tin full of spare change. Recently a report by online estate agent Perfect Agent revealed what UK homeowners leave behind when relocating. Out of 1,000 respondents, nearly two thirds said that they had forgotten to take money carefully stashed in a hiding place. Other respondents left behind them chargers, vacuum cleaners, bicycles and Christmas decorations.

However, other respondents said that they deliberately left behind them heavy or unwanted items which were not worth the expense to move.

And it’s these items – such as the huge bookcase which will not fit in your new house – that stay. After all, it’s really not worth the time and effort to huff and puff with things that you don’t have any intention of using again.

True, it might be difficult to choose what to leave behind. But see it as a therapeutic exercise. After all, moving to your new house marks a fresh start and an opportunity to get rid of belongings which you have accumulated over the years. Moreover, while you might not need them, the people who bought your old house might find good use for them.

Sell, sell, sell

Now you might not be feeling so generous that you would want to leave a lot of items for free for the new owners. After all, what with the new house and the relocation, there are plenty of bills to pay. Try and sell your unwanted items by organising a garage sale. You might be surprised how the old junk that has been accumulating over the years can still find a new home.

Don’t think that you will make a profit – however, getting some cash for items that you would have left behind or given away isn’t such a bad thing. You can also consider donating items to a charity of your choice.

Old furniture and appliances

Furniture is usually bulky and expensive to transport. Moreover, there might not be the right space for it in your new house. You can try and sell it to the new owners. Alternatively, sell it to someone who has the means to collect it.

Appliances are also tricky to move. First of all, they might be fitted and so will be difficult to use in your new kitchen, bathroom and washroom. Also, now that you’re moving to a new house, you might be considering upgrading your appliances to newer models. Consider factoring in the cost of the appliances in the selling price of the house, especially if you’re also leaving behind the kitchen and bathroom.

Fittings

In the case of precious chandeliers or expensive light fittings, these will of course feature in your new house. However, leave behind any general light fixtures that have no value or for which you will not find any use in your new home.

This also applies to other items which are fitted or affixed to the walls. If anything is nailed or fitted to the walls, floor or ceiling – such as bathroom mirrors, parquet, inbuilt storage or shelving – consider leaving them behind. After all, you might cause damage if you were to try removing them.

Garden decorations

You’ve spent endless hours, days and weekends taking care of your garden. Pity that, for obvious reasons, you have to leave it behind you. Say goodbye to your trees, plants and shrubs but also to decorative and furniture items such as garden art, loungers, tables and chairs. Also consider leaving behind your barbecue set as this might be too bulky to carry to your new house.

Parting gift

So you’ll be starting a fresh life chapter in a new house. It’s also an exciting time for the new homeowners moving into your old house. Consider leaving behind a token or gift for the new homeowners, such as a nice piece of furniture, some books which you’ve already read and enjoyed, or some bottles of wine from your collection. It always pays to be nice.