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How to Take Inventory of Your Belongings Before Moving

Billy Kornfeld

If you're getting ready to move to a new house or apartment, congratulations! Relocating can be an exciting adventure—even if you're not going very far. That said, it's essential to begin preparing before the big day so you’re not throwing everything into boxes at the last minute. That’s a recipe for broken plates, wine glasses, and home electronics, or losing or leaving behind items. Plan ahead and give yourself time for packing everything carefully while creating a moving inventory list. That way, when you reach your new home, you can rest easy knowing all your possessions are there waiting for you!

Taking Inventory for a Move and Insurance

One great benefit to tracking household inventory, beyond Moving Day, is that it can serve as an insurance claim backup document in case of a house fire, flood, or other natural disasters.

It's important to note that your moving company must perform its own inventory of items moved if you are moving across state lines. Most moving and storage companies will perform their own inventory of stored items. Generally, for time-saving (and therefore money-saving) purposes, a moving company will not perform an inventory list for a local move unless one is requested. However, the moving company’s inventory will include pieces of furniture and the total number of boxes moved, not the individual items in each box. That's why an inventory list of your own can be very helpful. It will help you to keep track of all moved items.

5 Steps to Making a Moving Inventory List for Your Upcoming Move

1. Copy All Important Documents

You’ll want to have digital copies of vital records such as birth and marriage certificates, home or renter’s insurance, and leasing agreement or deeds, but also make sure you make a second paper copy. Take originals with you and pack the copied documents.

2. Create a Video of Each Room’s Belongings Before Packing

Slowly walk through each room and make a video using your phone or a camera. Focus on furniture, artwork, and home electronics. Don't forget to open closet doors and cabinets to get footage of clothes, appliances, and kitchenware. Alternatively, you can photograph these items. Having a visual record of your packing inventory list can help the moving company if certain things aren't delivered.

3. Organize Your Moving Boxes

Label each moving box using color-coded labels to designate the room to which it belongs. This step will help your movers efficiently deliver your boxes to the correct room, which will help in the unpacking process.

4. Pack and Label

As you pack each box, keep a note of what it contains. Once the box is full, label it according to when you want to unpack it. Your categories could simply be UNPACK FIRST, UNPACK LAST, and unlabeled, or your system could be a more precise rating system of 1 to 5. No matter the system, you’ll find it very helpful to quickly find your bedding, toiletries, and clothing when settling into your new home. As you pack and label, keep updating your moving inventory lists of boxes by room, contents, and level of importance.

5. Copy the List

After you've finished creating your inventory list, make a copy. One should be a digital record that you save on your computer or phone, and the other should be a hard copy that you store along with the critical documents you copied in the first step. You'll want to keep these close by throughout the moving process.

Going through the extra steps of creating a packing inventory list of everything you're moving may seem like an unnecessary hassle, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

What to Have on Your Inventory List

Not sure how to take inventory or develop your inventory list? Not to worry! At Camelot Moving & Storage, we've been helping people move for years! Here are some professional, expert tips on what to keep track of when creating a packing inventory list of your home belongings.

  • Kitchenwares

    Take a moving inventory list of what you have in the pantry, cabinets, and drawers. This includes how many spoons, forks, knives, plates, bowls, cooking utensils, pots, pans, etc.

  • Furniture

    Note all the furniture in each room, such as couches, beds, chairs, tables, and lamps.

  • Clothing

    List how many shirts, pants, dresses, shoes, etc., each person has as they pack. In the clothing section, you can also include linens, bath towels, and kitchen towels.

  • Electronics

    Mention any electronics you have in each room, such as radios, T.V.s, computers, voice command devices (Alexa), etc.

  • Artwork

    Any pictures or art on the walls you will want to add to your moving inventory list by room.

  • Jewelry

    Taking note of jewelry is always a good list for a move and insurance purposes.

  • Home décor or Other Collectibles

    Note the home décor you display on shelves, bookcases, outside, or elsewhere. Also, mention any that are collectibles or family heirlooms.

  • Garage and Workshops

    Inventory tools, toys, sports equipment, or anything else that you have stored in your garage or workshop.

How To Keep Track of Your List

Depending on your size of home, you may have a lot of items to inventory. Inventory is important to keep whether you have a five-bedroom home or a studio apartment. Here are a few ways to track your moving inventory list.

Camelot Moving & Storage: Your Trusted Source for Professional Moving and Storage Services

Whether moving locally or relocating hundreds of miles away, you'll find yourself in good hands with Camelot Moving & Storage. We’re a moving company with decades of professional experience helping families of all sizes (including pets!) relocate to new homes near or far! Start your moving inventory list today, and contact us about scheduling a move and connecting with our relocation team.