5 Tips to make an inventory for moving home

When moving home, there is always the possibility of an inconvenience occurring and some of your belongings being forgotten, lost, or damaged, especially when you move on your own and without the help of a professional service.

This is why it's vital to keep detailed control of all your belongings, being those that will make your next destination feel like your new home. For this reason, and with the purpose of easing this often stressful process, we share with you 5 basic tips to carry out the correct inventory of your move and the reasons why it is important to do it.

Why is it important to do an inventory when moving?

Having a document listing all of your belongings and in which box you plan to transport them may sound tedious, but it's actually helpful and can save you a lot of hassle during the process.

If you're not sure if taking an inventory is worth the time and effort, here are some reasons why it's absolutely necessary:

• It makes it easier to check that all goods, from furniture to the smallest items, are packed and arrive correctly at the new home.
  
• It makes the whole process more orderly by knowing what belongings were placed in each box, making it easier to unpack in each room.
• You prevent any belongings from being forgotten or lost, and you will be able to identify if any were damaged during transportation.
• If you hire a moving company or have an insurance policy for your belongings, an inventory can help you claim for any inconvenience.

 How to inventory your belongings?

1. Inventory ahead of time 

BEFORE: To avoid feeling overwhelmed, it's important to start listing all your belongings in advance of the move. Doing everything at the last minute can cause belongings to be forgotten.

DURING: If you do the packing yourself, you can do the inventory as you go along or check items off the list as you place them in their respective boxes.

*The inventory can be an excellent tool to control what is leaving your home and being placed in the moving vehicle, ensuring that nothing is left behind.

AT THE END: Finally, when unpacking you can verify that everything is in the optimal state and has arrived at the new home properly.

👉 Click here to learn step by step the best way to organize and pack a move.

2. Create the right document for you

As long as it is simple and clear, you can use the format of your choice for your moving inventory. Whether you use paper and pencil, digitize the information in Excel, or even an app for your phone that specializes in inventories (some allow you to store video and photos), it is always a good idea to keep an organized record and take relevant notes.

So try to choose the format that makes the task easier and, as a recommendation, include the following aspects:

• • • A list of all belongings.
    • The way to categorize or classify them (numbers, colors, among others).
    • An index of the codes you use to speed up the process.
    • Boxes to check off each item when packing, moving, or unpacking it.
    • An observations section to write down any specifications about any box or object..

NOTE: During a move, it is very likely to lose sight of certain things. Make sure you have at least one extra copy of your inventory, either on paper or digitally, and remember where you keep it.

3. Keep a detailed record with all useful information

Listing all the belongings in your home requires time and effort, so it is advisable to do it by room or decide on certain categories to keep everything in boxes, such as according to the usefulness of the goods.

You can go space by space listing all the belongings.  It is not a matter of writing down all the objects, item by item, but rather it's useful to record objects of great economic or sentimental value, or large furniture and appliances.

The more detailed the list, the better! Considers the following aspects to be noted in the inventory:

• • • A specific description of the item: write distinctive data such as the model or even the serial number, and also whether the object is fragile or resistant (once packed, this is essential to move it with the necessary care).
    • Condition before moving: describe any damage, scratches or dings on the object.
    • Value: take note of the approximate current value or original price (include receipts if necessary).
    • Destination Room / Space: Indicate the room where it will belong in the new home to place your box in the appropriate place and save time.

NOTE: Leave a space available in your inventory to register any additional information.

4. Consider including photographs of your belongings

Adding pictures or even videos of certain valuable belongings can be of great help. By having high-resolution photographs recorded from different angles, you can check the original condition of your belongings before you start the move.

5. Label and number each box

Knowing where and with what each item is stored will be useless if you cannot differentiate each box and quickly find what you are looking for.

Therefore, the best option is to label each box with the number and category or name by which you identify it in the inventory (the number can be added to the document when packing everything). It's vital to conspicuously label boxes containing fragile or valuable belongings.

As mentioned in the previous points, there are different ways to organize and divide boxes with labels, but the most commonly used are by utility and room.

• • • By utility: It is recommended when you have many similar items, for example, a box full of books will make it easier to find and unpack them all together.
      
    • By room: It is best to label the box by room when, for example, there are several utensils or appliances that are difficult to sort one by one.

👉 In Mexico there are several types and models of cardboard boxes, specifically designed to facilitate the packing and transportation of specific objects. Click here to learn more about them in our article!