Moving? How to Create a Home Inventory List

Staying organized is half the battle to make your move successful, and that includes knowing exactly which items you’re taking to your next destination.

HOW TO CREATE AN INVENTORY LIST

Your household inventory is not just for moving. This list can come in handy in the event of an emergency. Keeping accurate records containing your possessions' serial numbers, estimated values and descriptions will help you recover your items if anything unforeseen were to happen to them.

Make a record of all of your belongings. You can easily record a video of your items with your smart phone or a video camera. If you choose this method, make sure that you are also mentioning the value of each item, when it was purchased and how much it cost.

You can also use an Excel spreadsheet. If making a video isn’t your style, you can create an Excel spreadsheet or use this free template. Here, you’ll describe each item, where it was located in your home, its purchase information and any other notes that might go along with it. The more descriptive the better.

Take pictures of your items. Helpful for you and your insurance company, photos can also be especially beneficial to your movers. If you have pictures of all your items, including articles of clothing, they will be more able to retrace their steps in the event that something goes missing.

Make copies of your list. Once it's created, make copies of your inventory list. Keep a copy in a separate place from your original one, but also leave a copy with a relative or a friend. This will ensure that no matter what happens, you will be able to find a copy of your list even if you misplace the original.

More of an app lover? No problem. There are plenty of apps that you can download that will make the work of creating a home inventory list much easier.

Encircle 

iOS/Android: Free

A modern spin on recording your inventory, Encircle allows you to add inventory for multiple properties. You can take photos of an individual item, or an entire room and afterwards tap on each item in the picture to record an individual entry for each. Encircle lets you record the serial number, model number, an item description, photos and photos of the receipt. This might be a stretch, but it's actually an app that makes creating a home inventory kind of... fun. 

Sortly 

iOS: Free with a $7.99 optional upgrade

With Sortly's free version, you can save up to 200 items, while with the $7.99 upgrade you can record unlimited items, automatically save them to Evernote and create QR-coded labels for moving boxes in order to easily tell what's in them once you reach your destination. Organization is simple with folders and tags, and Sortly's clean interface makes for a simple user experience. 

By creating a household inventory list, you can also get an even more accurate quote from your potential movers, as well as review all your items to determine if you will need additional moving insurance on top of what is offered through your moving company or your home insurance.