Moving Inventory List: Catalog Your Home Before You Move
A moving inventory list does two things: it proves the condition of your belongings if a mover damages or loses something, and it turns unpacking from chaos into a checklist. Build it before the boxes are sealed.
Movers' liability is limited, and their default coverage often pays pennies on the dollar by weight, not value. If a box goes missing or a TV arrives cracked, the claim comes down to what you can prove you handed over — and in what condition. A moving inventory with photos is that proof.
How to make a moving inventory list
- Go room by room before packing — start with the most valuable room.
- For each item, take a photo showing its current condition, and note the room and a rough value.
- Record serial or model numbers for electronics and appliances.
- Don't skip the garage, closets and stored items — that's where losses hide.
- Keep the record on your own device so you can reach it during and after the move, not in a box.
- After delivery, check items against the list before you sign the mover's paperwork.
Sign nothing until you've checked. Once you sign a mover's delivery receipt as "received in good condition," claiming damage later gets much harder. A photo taken *before* the move is your evidence of prior condition.
Homivo doubles as a moving inventory: a photo, room and value for each item, grouped with a running total, all offline on your iPhone. Because it's a one-time purchase and lives on your device, the record stays with you long after the move — ready to serve as a home inventory for insurance too.
Frequently asked questions
Why make a moving inventory list?
To prove condition and value if a mover damages or loses something, to check nothing is missing on delivery, and to make unpacking manageable. Photos are the key part — they establish the condition of each item before transit.
What should a moving inventory list include?
Per item: a photo of its current condition, the room, an estimated value, and any serial/model number for electronics. Do it before packing, room by room.