Moving house is one of the few moments when you handle almost everything you own. It is also the moment when things get lost, damaged, or go missing and you have no record to refer back to. A basic inventory done before the removal van arrives costs very little time and can save a lot of grief.
Most people put off building a home inventory because it feels like a big task with no obvious deadline. Moving gives you a deadline and a reason. You are already going through your things - adding a quick record as you pack takes far less time than starting from scratch in an empty new home.
There are three practical reasons to have an inventory in place before you move:
You do not need to photograph every item in the house. Focus on anything that is valuable, hard to replace, or difficult to prove ownership of after the fact:
For each item: a photo, a name, and ideally a serial number. If you have receipts, note roughly what you paid. An approximate value is far more useful than no record at all.
For items that might be vulnerable in transit - large TVs, antiques, instruments, fragile furniture - photograph them before they are wrapped or boxed. A photo showing the item undamaged, dated before the move, is your evidence if something arrives scratched or broken. Without it, a removals dispute becomes your word against theirs.
Most removal contracts have a short window for claims - usually seven to fourteen days after the move. The sooner you notice something is wrong, the better your chances of a successful claim.
When you arrive and start unpacking, use the location feature to set up rooms in your new home. Create a location for each room, then assign items as you unpack them. You end up with an accurate record of where everything is - useful immediately and even more useful six months later when you cannot find the drill or the spare router.
Sub-locations are worth setting up for anywhere you store multiple things: Kitchen > Utility Cupboard, Bedroom > Wardrobe, Garage > Storage Shelving. The more specific you are when you unpack, the more useful it becomes day-to-day.
If you are moving into a house with a garage, shed, or storage room, NFC tags are worth setting up early. You can buy a pack of small NFC stickers for a few pounds, stick one to a shelf or storage box, and scan it from the app to navigate straight to that location. Tap the tag, and you are immediately in the right place to add or check items - no typing required.
NFC stickers work particularly well in garages and sheds where you might have tools, seasonal equipment, and boxes that are not opened very often. Labelling a shelf when you first move in takes seconds and pays off every time you need to find something later.
Moving is a natural trigger for a cover review. Check that your policy reflects your new address and that any items that have changed in value since your last renewal are covered at the right amount. High-value items - jewellery, cameras, bikes, instruments - sometimes need to be listed individually to be properly covered. Your inventory is the starting point for that conversation with your insurer.
If you are moving to a rental, a contents inventory is even more important. Your landlord's insurance covers the building and their fixtures - your belongings are entirely your responsibility.
Once you are settled, do a quick pass to confirm everything arrived. Look for anything that is missing, scratched, or needs a follow-up with the removals company. Cross-reference against your inventory if anything is in question.
It is also worth noting any items that did not make the move - things you sold, donated, or threw away before the move. Keeping your inventory current takes less effort than rebuilding it from scratch.
The easiest time to add a new item to your inventory is when it arrives. When you buy a new appliance or piece of furniture for the new house, take 60 seconds to photograph it and note the serial number before it gets tucked away. That habit keeps your inventory accurate without any periodic catch-up sessions.
additem.to is free on iPhone - no account required, no item limit. Document your belongings before the move, then organise by room as you unpack.
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