Nobody enjoys moving.
Moving is one of those unavoidable life events you’d probably rather forget. Time-consuming, exhausting and often overwhelming, moving obscures the excitement and anticipation of being in your new home. The prospect of moving may even make you feel out of control, especially if your move has been thwarted, interrupted or delayed during challenging times.
Hiring a reputable, professional moving company helps, but YOU can make the task simpler by getting better organized. How? Start with a home inventory.
A home inventory helps you plan your move. It’s a master list of your property and an essential tool: a location finder, organizer and checklist, all in one document. It helps track the details of your move at every stage.
Think of it as an evolving planning document. By adding and updating information as your move progresses, it organizes all your property information, decisions and arrangements in one tidy place.
Why Create a Home Inventory
Documents all belongings in a clear list
Centralizes critical details and decisions about your move
Helps identify specific handling needs
Facilitates more accurate estimates from movers
Tracks your property from packing to final placement
Aids coordination with movers
Consolidates documentation of your property in case of damage
Creates a greater sense of control
Generates a complete record of your personal property assets and proof and evidence of ownership (invaluable for insurance and estate planning)
Seem overwhelming? Creating an inventory isn't difficult to undertake when you follow these sensible tips:
Inventory Tips
Start your inventory during the initial planning of your move
Proceed room by room (you'll feel more organized)
Build your inventory gradually and incrementally
Use a spreadsheet to organize data and add new information as your move progresses
Document small related items in groups (use common sense and estimate volume/quantity of property in closets and drawers)
Take photographs of your property (which can be integrated into a spreadsheet)
Using Your Home Inventory at Each Stage of Moving
Initial Planning
First things first: begin by listing all your belongings room by room. Identify what you’ll be taking to your new home (or discarding). Flag property that’s fragile, valuable or in need of special packing and handling. Note condition issues. Determine the probable location in your new home. Identify items you plan to transport yourself (many moving companies recommend that clients transport valuable items, important documents, family photos, special collections, jewelry, etc.).
Hiring a Moving Company Use your home inventory to provide movers with data about the extent and character of your property. This helps them calculate staffing needs, truck size, packing materials and the length of time involved to provide a more accurate estimate for your job. Add to your inventory any special packing and handling arrangements for individual items.
Packing Your Possessions
Label each box with a unique box name+number and add to your inventory. Your mover can help create a simple identification system customized for your new home. The benefit is twofold: you can track the contents of every box – especially useful if your belongings are packed in dozens of boxes – while your movers will know where to put them.
On Moving Day
Use your inventory as a checklist. Add a field to record when property is loaded onto the truck, to confirm arrival at your new home, to direct where property is to be placed and to describe any damage (document damage with dated photographs as well).
Unpacking
Use your inventory to locate items while you unpack, since your inventory will identify the contents of each box, and to document any damage to property discovered inside boxes as evidence for insurance claims.
Some Final Thoughts...
Don’t discard or misplace your home inventory once you’re in your new place!
Your home inventory has enduring value that goes well beyond your move. Think about it: omit logistical information from the move, add more descriptive details and the cost (or estimated value) of your property, and you now have evidence of everything you own and a ballpark figure of the total value of your belongings. The kind of documentation that's invaluable for insurance and estate planning.
Using a detailed and thorough home inventory facilitates a successful move and a much less stressful one as well. Now is the perfect time to create one.
Have questions? Send them and I will respond promptly. And if you need personal guidance to create your home inventory, I am here to help. Sign up for a free 30-minute consultation. Be well. Shelley New York City #planningamove #homeinventory #inventorymovingplanner #inventorychecklist #documentingyourbelongings #trackingyourproperty #inventorytips #homeinventorytips #usesforahomeinventory #
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