Make an inventory list – take control of how much you're moving
An inventory list is a room-by-room list of your home's belongings that helps you gauge how much you have to move. When you list what's in each room, you know what you own, you can estimate the moving boxes and packing supplies you'll need, and you won't forget anything. Making the list is a good way to start a move, because it makes packing systematic.
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How to make a room-by-room list of your belongings
Divide your home into rooms and list each room's belongings separately. This gives you an overall picture of how many spaces and how much stuff you have.
Divide a sheet of paper or a file into as many parts as you have rooms, and name them, for example, "bedroom 1" and "bedroom 2".
Remember storage spaces, the garage, the utility room and the toilet too — all your storage areas.
For each room, note down the furniture and large items.
You don't need to itemise smaller things one by one: a note like "dishes", for example, is enough to remind you to get packing paper for the packing stage.
Start listing with the things you use rarely — that way you'll notice what you'd otherwise have forgotten.
Use the list to buy packing supplies
Once the rooms and belongings are listed, go through the list and think about what packing supplies each item needs. When you know what you're packing, it's easy to choose the right packing supplies and estimate the number of moving boxes you'll need in good time.
Frequently asked questions about the inventory list
Why is it worth making an inventory list before a move?
An inventory list helps you gauge how much you have to move, so you can reserve the right number of moving boxes and packing supplies. At the same time, you'll notice what's worth selling, donating or recycling.
Where should you start listing your belongings?
Start with the rooms and belongings you use rarely. That way you'll more easily notice what you'd otherwise have forgotten, and the list fills in systematically, one room at a time.
How precisely do belongings need to be listed?
It's enough to note the furniture and large items and to group smaller things, such as "dishes". The aim is to gauge the total amount and packing needs, not to catalogue every single item.