How to Make a Moving Inventory (So Nothing Gets Lost or Broken)
Updated June 11, 2026
A move is the most dangerous thing that happens to your belongings. Boxes go missing, screens crack in transit, and three weeks later you cannot remember what was in the box that never arrived. A moving inventory is the cheap insurance that makes the whole thing accountable.
Why make an inventory before you move
Once everything is in identical brown boxes, your memory is the only record of what you owned and what condition it was in. That is exactly when you most need proof — for a missing box, a damaged TV, or a mover's claim form. Building the list before you pack means you are never arguing from memory.
What to capture before you pack
- A photo of each valuable item, showing its current condition
- Roughly what it is worth
- Brand, model, and serial number for electronics and appliances
- The box number it is going into
Build a labeling system that matches your inventory
Number every box and note the room it belongs to, then record that box number against each item in your inventory. Now you can find anything in seconds, and on the other end you know instantly if box 14 never made it off the truck. A matched numbering system is the difference between a tidy unpack and a frantic one.
Document condition for damage claims
Photograph electronics, furniture, and fragile items before they are wrapped. If something arrives damaged, a timestamped before photo plus a value is precisely what a mover's claim needs. It is worth reading your mover's valuation and liability terms up front, because basic coverage is often far less than an item is actually worth.
After the move: check everything arrived
Do not sign off until you have walked your inventory box by box. Flag anything missing or damaged right away — most movers have a short window to file a claim, and a same-day note with a photo is far stronger than one you remember a week later.
Use Stowly for your moving inventory
Snap photos room by room on your phone as you pack, and organize items by room. Because Stowly runs in any browser, you can check the list from any device on moving day — your phone in the old place, a laptop in the new one. Best of all, when the boxes are unpacked you already have a permanent home inventory, ready for warranties and insurance. Unlimited and free.