I'm a Professional Organizer and Here is the One Common Mistake I See Companies Make When They Move
In my years as a professional organizer specializing in corporate relocations, I've worked with everyone from scrappy tech startups to multinational corporations. I've watched CEOs personally sort through supply closets and seen facilities teams coordinate moves across multiple time zones. Yet whether I'm helping a 10-person agency or a company with thousands of employees, I encounter the same costly oversight every single time—one preventable mistake that turns what should be an exciting fresh start into a financial and logistical nightmare.
Companies don't declutter before they move.
It sounds almost too simple, doesn't it? Yet this single oversight transforms what should be a fresh start into an expensive transfer of problems from one location to another.
The Psychology of "We Might Need This"
When you're facing a move deadline, the easiest decision is no decision. This "when in doubt, pack it out" mentality feels efficient in the moment, but it's actually the most expensive approach you can take.
The True Cost of Moving Clutter
Let me break down what not decluttering actually costs you:
Moving expenses multiply. Professional movers charge by weight, volume, and time. I've seen companies spend $3,000-$5,000 more than necessary simply because they couldn't let go of items they'll never use again.
Setup takes forever. When you arrive at your new space with boxes of irrelevant items mixed in with essentials, your team spends valuable time sorting through junk instead of getting back to work. What should take days stretches into weeks.
Storage costs accumulate. That "temporary" storage unit for items you "might need someday" has a funny way of becoming permanent, sometimes costing hundreds monthly for years.
Morale suffers. There's nothing more deflating than unpacking box after box of items that should have been discarded. Your team loses momentum, and your fresh start feels stale before you've even settled in.
The Right Way to Approach Pre-Move Decluttering
Here's the proven system I use with every client:
Start with categories, not rooms. Don't tackle "the storage room." Instead, focus on "all technology equipment" or "all reference materials." This prevents you from moving the same type of clutter from multiple locations.
Check legal requirements first. Before discarding anything, consult with your legal team about document retention requirements. Financial records, contracts, and employee files often have specific retention periods mandated by law.
Use the 18-month rule for non-legal items. If you haven't used something in 18 months, and it's not legally required to keep, it goes. This rule is strict enough to eliminate dead weight but flexible enough to preserve genuinely useful items.
Create four zones with clear actions:
Keep: Items moving to the new location
Donate: Functioning furniture, supplies, and equipment (contact local nonprofits or schools)
Recycle: Electronics (use certified e-waste recyclers), paper, and metals
Trash: Broken items beyond repair
Digitize what you can. Those filing cabinets full of paper? Most of it can be scanned and stored digitally. You'll save on moving costs and gain accessibility in your new space.
Assign decision-makers. Each department needs one person authorized to make keep/discard decisions quickly. The longer you deliberate over a broken stapler, the more likely you are to pack it "just in case."
The Fresh Start Advantage
When you declutter before moving, something magical happens. Your new office actually feels new. Your team isn't weighed down by the accumulated clutter of years past. They can focus on what matters: doing great work in a space that supports them.
I've watched companies transform their entire culture simply by refusing to drag old inefficiencies into their new environment. They move faster, think clearer, and work more efficiently—all because they had the courage to let go of what no longer served them.
Your Action Plan (Three Weeks Minimum)
Start decluttering at least three weeks before your move date—more if you have a large office or complex inventory. Here's your timeline:
Week 1: Tackle shared spaces—conference rooms, break rooms, storage areas. These are usually the biggest sources of accumulated clutter.
Week 2: Have each department sort through their own materials using the categories and rules above.
Week 3: Final sweep and decisions on borderline items. When in doubt, let it go.
For larger organizations, consider adding an extra week at the beginning for legal review and planning.
The Bottom Line
Moving offices is expensive and disruptive no matter what. But it doesn't have to be wasteful. By decluttering before you move, you're not just saving money—you're investing in a more efficient, productive future for your company.
Trust me, your team will thank you. Your budget will thank you. And your new office will actually feel like the fresh start you intended it to be.
Ready to Make Your Move Stress-Free?
Don't let clutter sabotage your next office relocation. Planning a move in the next 6 months? I offer strategic decluttering consultations to help companies avoid the costly mistakes I see every day. Contact me to discuss how we can make your transition seamless.
