Moving Day causes clutter chaos in Quebec

MONTREAL - As the province springs into Moving Day action, Quebecers looking to make a move on July 1 may find themselves overwhelmed with too much clutter. In fact, 52% of the province reports dealing with some sort of clutter in their home - ranging from moderate clutter to clutter that's completely out of control - leaving many asking, should the clutter stay or should it go? Damn you, clutter!

What's standing in the way of the big move?

Half of Quebecers report holding on to a 'little bit of everything', including clothes (16%), work and office supplies (15%), hobby supplies (12 %), collectibles (3%), books, music and CDs (4%).

Whether you're looking to get rid of unwanted items before they get boxed up, or plan on downsizing when you move into your new home, consider getting rid of items you no longer want or need.

• Detach yourself. More than 60% of Quebecers contend that they're "very or somewhat emotionally attached" to their clutter. Are you serious?!? What is the worst possible thing that could happen if you didn't have that chicken teapot you bought at a garage sale 6 years ago?
• Seek out the obvious. If you're decluttering before you move, start with the obvious places, such as the basement, the living room, or the bedroom. In fact, 20% of Quebecers admit to storing their clutter in their bedroom. Look for clothes, office supplies, and collectibles that are no longer wanted or needed.
• Love it or list it. If you don't love it or need it, list it for sale using an online classifieds site. It's a great way to sell almost anything.
• Pick a price and post a picture. Take a minute to compare the price of similar products to get a sense of what your item is worth. If you're like 67% of other Canadians with clutter who say it's made up of a bit of everything, you may not know its true value. Once you've priced the item, start listing. Always include a photo of your item in your ad. After all, a picture is worth 1000 words or maybe even $1,000.
• Start seeing green. Once your ad goes live, interested buyers will start to contact you. To complete the transaction, meet in person at a mutually agreed upon location.

Some other interesting differences between Quebecers and their clutter and the rest of the country:

• Quebecers love their style: clothing makes up more clutter than anywhere else in the country (16% vs. 10% elsewhere).
• Conversely, Quebecers' bedrooms are neater than any other province! Only 5% of Quebecers report their bedroom as a storage area, compared with 15% of Western Canada, 16% of Ontarians, and 26% in Atlantic Canada.
• Quebecers are the most attached to their items, with 17% reporting that they are very emotionally connected to unwanted possessions, compared to 9% in the rest of Canada.
• 34% of Quebecers report their basement as the most cluttered room.
• 31% of Quebecers have up to $300 worth of clutter in their home that they could easily sell and turn into cash.

And if you decide to keep that clutter, Ikea is handing out 15,000 moving boxes to Montrealers between June 25th-30th. Go to the following stores while supplies last.

• St. Laurent & Rue Prince Arthur: Thursday, June 30 (2:30 to 6:30 pm)
• Rene Levesque & St. Denis: Tuesday, June 28 (2:30 to 6:30 pm) and Wednesday, June 29 (2:30 to 6:30 pm)
• IKEA Boucherville parking lot: Monday, June 27 (2:30 to 6:30 pm)

As well, June 30 there will be several billboards around the city containing folded up boxes that people can take home.

Each box is made of 85% recycled material and can be brought back to an IKEA store after moving day to be recycled properly.

Montreal - Montreal City News