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When preparing for a move, many people focus on packing, securing transportation, and arranging logistics at their new location. However, an often overlooked but crucial step is creating a home inventory. This comprehensive listing of your possessions can make your move more efficient and offers a safety net should anything go wrong. Here’s what to know about preparing your home’s inventory before the big day to ensure you arrive at your new Westchester home with all your valued items accounted for.
What Is a Home Inventory?
A home inventory will serve as a comprehensive list of all your belongings, which can help you keep track of everything during the move and be an essential reference point in case anything goes missing or becomes damaged. This detailed list can include everything from furniture and appliances to clothing and personal belongings.
Why Do Home Inventories Matter?
One of the main benefits of a home inventory is that it can help you determine the value of your belongings. This information is crucial if you’re planning to purchase moving insurance or must file a claim for lost or damaged items. A comprehensive list of all your possessions can help you provide your insurance company with the information they need to process your claim.
- A home inventory can help you stay organized during your move. You can create a packing plan that accommodates your needs by knowing what you have, where it is now, and where it will be during the moving process.
- With a home inventory, you can quickly check off each item as it’s packed and ensure nothing is left behind.
- A home inventory can also help you declutter and get rid of items you no longer need or want. As you go through your belongings and create the list, you may discover things you forgot you had or no longer have a use for in your new home.
Overall, a home inventory can help you streamline your move and make it easier to unpack and settle into your new Westchester home.
When to Start Creating Your Home Inventory
Starting early on your home inventory can give you a head start on your moving timeline and ensure you remember all valuable items. Ideally, you should start creating your home inventory as soon as you decide to move into a new Westchester home. Doing so will give you enough time to sort and categorize your belongings according to their value and importance.
Although not the best option, you can still begin the process a few weeks before your move — just make sure to allocate enough time to go through every room in your home and take note of all the items you wish to bring to your new home in Westchester.
While creating a home inventory can be time-consuming, it’s worth the effort and can help you have the easiest house-moving experience.
Start By Creating a List
To ensure nothing gets lost or damaged during your move, create a list of all your belongings, including their condition, value, and where they’ll be packed (i.e., if the item’s box has a name or designated room). Going room by room to list everything you own will help you organize your items.
Take Photos of Valuable Items
Snap pictures of your valuable possessions to document their condition before moving. Doing so will indicate any damage or loss during the move. Taking pictures of your valuable items is especially important if you plan to file a claim with your moving company for any damages incurred during transport.
Make sure to capture clear, detailed images of each item from different angles. Keep these pictures in a safe place, such as a folder on your phone.
Make Copies of Important Documents
Remember to make copies of all your important documents before moving day! Keep these documents, such as birth certificates, passports, social security cards, and insurance policies, in a safe place and with you on moving day.
In addition to duplicating these documents, creating a folder specifically for your moving paperwork is a good idea. This folder should include contracts, estimates, and receipts for any expenses related to the move. Keeping all of this paperwork in one place will make it easier to keep track of.
When making copies of important documents, consider scanning them and storing them digitally. This can be done using a scanner or even just taking pictures with your phone. Having digital copies will provide an extra layer of protection in case anything happens to the physical ones during your move.
Record Serial Numbers for Larger Appliances & Electronics
It’s essential to record the serial numbers of your larger appliances and electronics before moving day. You can take photos of them and their numbers or write the information down on a notepad.
The make, model, and serial numbers will be helpful if you must file insurance claims. If anything gets damaged during the move, you can use the information to claim compensation from the moving company or your insurance provider.
Get a Head Start on Your Move
Preparing a home inventory is a crucial step you shouldn’t overlook during moving. By creating a list, taking pictures, and making copies of important documents, homeowners can ensure they have a comprehensive record of all their belongings.