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:
How to inventory your belongings?
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.
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:
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.
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:
NOTE: Leave a space available in your inventory to register any additional information.
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.
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.
👉 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!
Now you know the steps to keep a record of your belongings and prevent them from being lost or damaged without realizing it. Remember that, in case of any doubt, it is always better to consult the professional service that will carry out the move, so nothing can go wrong!