October is the perfect time to talk about something genuinely scary—decluttering spaces in your home you’ve been avoiding: the attic you haven’t climbed into since you moved in, the basement corner piled with boxes from three moves ago, or that spare bedroom that’s become a dumping ground.

And nobody wants to think about other critters that might be living in those spaces.

The Unwanted Roommates in Your Clutter

Cluttered, undisturbed areas are basically five-star hotels for pests. Brown recluse spiders, black widows, rodents, silverfish—they all love dark, quiet spaces where they can set up camp without being bothered.

Brown recluse spiders are particularly fond of attics and basements. They’re not aggressive, but their bites can cause serious tissue damage. They get their name because they’re reclusive; they hide in undisturbed areas. That box of college textbooks you’ve been meaning to sort through for five years? Prime real estate for a brown recluse.

The more clutter you have, the more hiding spots spiders and bugs have. Cardboard boxes are spider magnets—eeek! And stacks of papers create the perfect home for unwanted insects.

Why Clutter = Pest Problems

Most people don’t realize that decluttering can actually help control pests. When you eliminate clutter, you eliminate hiding spots where spiders build webs, nesting areas for rodents, moisture-trapping zones that attract insects, and dark corners where pests feel safe.

Beyond the pest issue, water damage often goes unnoticed in cluttered basements until it’s a major problem. Roof leaks in attics get worse when you can’t see them. And if you need to access your HVAC system, decluttering now will help!

Why Professional Decluttering Actually Helps

You could tackle this yourself—spend your weekends climbing into that spider-infested attic, making a hundred decisions about what to keep, and dealing with the inevitable “I don’t know what to do with this” paralysis.

Or you could call in people who do this for a living.

Let’s Get Moving! has spent over 20 years helping Nashville and Middle Tennessee residents deal with exactly these situations. We’ve cleared out thousands of attics, basements, and storage spaces.

Here’s how we actually help:

We assess the situation without judgment, then work with you to sort through everything. We’re not going to force you to throw away your grandmother’s china, but we will help you be honest about that treadmill you haven’t touched in eight years.

Our team handles the physical work—the lifting, the sorting, the hauling. We know how to safely deal with spaces that might have pest issues. We coordinate donations and removals. And we help you set up organization systems that actually work, so the space doesn’t just fill back up.

The decluttering services we offer aren’t about making you feel bad about your stuff. They’re about helping you reclaim functional space in your home and eliminating the conditions that attract pests.

What Happens After the Clutter’s Gone

Clear out a messy attic, and suddenly you can spot that roof leak before it ruins your ceiling. Same with basements—water stains show up fast when they’re not hidden behind fifteen boxes of who-knows-what.

You’ll also notice fewer spiders pretty quickly. No clutter means nowhere to hide, and spiders move on to better real estate.

The mental shift is real, too. It’s hard to explain until you experience it, but there’s something about knowing your storage spaces are handled. Not perfect, just not a complete mess you’re avoiding.

And if selling your house is anywhere on your radar—even five years out—buyers notice clean attics and basements. It signals the whole house has been maintained.

Start Now, Not Next Spring

Every season that passes with those spaces cluttered is another season of pest problems and wasted space. The holidays are coming, which means you need to access those storage areas soon anyway. Why not handle it now, before you’re digging through spider webs looking for the Christmas decorations?

If you’re tired of avoiding your attic or basement, it’s time to do something about it. Schedule a consultation, and let’s figure out a plan that works for you.

Because the only thing scary in your house this Halloween should be your decorations, not what’s hiding in your storage spaces.

Let’s Get Moving! has been helping Nashville families declutter and organize since 2005. We handle the heavy lifting so you can enjoy your space.