Clutter will cause headache for majority of Quebecers on Moving Day

- 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. According to a survey commissioned by Kijiji Canada, 52 per cent 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?

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 per cent), work and office supplies (15 per cent), hobby supplies (12 per cent), collectibles (three per cent), books, music and CDs (four per cent).

"There's no reason to move the clutter," said Linda Sauvé, Kijiji Canada's clutter expert. "Take the time to identify unwanted items and get rid of them before the big day to avoid the heavy lifting. Use an online classifieds site like Kijiji.ca for a free and easy way to sell items that you no longer want or need.

"If you're instead planning on challenging your inner strongman and packing up everything, don't let the clutter move in to your new basement or bedroom. Get rid of unwanted items as you unpack them."

Cleaning out your clutter

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, Kijiji Canada's clutter expert suggests the following tips for getting rid of items you no longer want or need:

1. Detach to de-clutter. More than 60 per cent of Quebecers contend that they're "very or somewhat emotionally attached" to their clutter, according to Kijiji's research. Really, ask yourself: what is the worst possible thing that could happen if I didn't have this item?
2. Seek out the obvious. If you're decluttering before you move, start with the obvious places. Clutter, according to the survey, is likely hiding in the basement, the living room, or the bedroom. In fact, 20 per cent of Quebecers admit to storing their clutter in their bedroom. Look for clothes, office supplies, and collectibles that you no longer want or need.
3. Love it or list it. If you don't love it or need it, list it for sale using an online classifieds site like Kijiji.ca. It's a great way to sell almost anything.
4. 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 67per cent 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.
5. 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.

Moving Day Clutter

Who's holding on to the most clutter? What is different about Quebec's clutter? When it comes to clutter behaviour in Quebec, the survey also reveals interesting differences between us and the rest of the country:

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

"When it comes to preparing for Moving Day you don't need a strongman," said Zachary Candelario, general manager, Kijiji Canada. "To lighten the load, Kijiji Canada is challenging Quebecers to clean out the clutter before the big move. It's also a great way to make a little extra cash to throw a housewarming party."

To start cleaning out clutter, Quebecers should visit www.kijiji.ca

Methodology

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between April 1 to 4, 2011, on behalf of Kijiji. For this survey, a sample of 1,030 adults from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics and political composition to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size and a 100% response rate would have an estimated margin of error of +/-3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what the results would have been had the entire population of adults in Canada been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.