Label the box, name the room it goes to, QR so you can open the list without the knife. When BoxBuddy, BoxQR, or Sortly is enough — and when a photo inventory fits.
Quick answer. Label the box, name the room it goes to, and put a QR on it that opens the list — so you are not guessing with a knife in the new hallway. Marker-only and abandoned Sheets fail the same way: you cannot search what you never recorded.
Moving is not a spreadsheet problem. It is a box problem. You pack a room into cardboard, write "kitchen" in marker, and three weeks later you cannot remember which carton has the coffee maker. Sticky notes fall off. The shared Google Sheet dies on moving day. You do not need a museum catalog of the house. You need each box to have a destination room and a way to see what is inside without opening it.
Different tools solve different slices of the same mess. Honest limits:
| Approach | What it is good at | Where it breaks |
|---|---|---|
| Marker + memory | Fast on pack day | You cannot search a Sharpie label from the new hallway |
| Spreadsheet / shared Sheet | People who finish rows | Nobody updates box 47 at 11 p.m.; photos do not live in cells |
| BoxBuddy-style box lists | Box contents typed or listed per carton | Still starts from typing, not from a photo of the open drawer |
| BoxQR / QR-on-box apps | Scan a label → see the list for that carton | Empty QR with no contents is just a sticker |
| Sortly-style inventory | Folders, barcodes, business-ish tracking | Heavy if all you needed was "which box is the bedding" |
| Photo → list (Vorby) | Snap what is in the open box or room; attach a QR to the carton; search later | Does not replace movers' liability paperwork; does not unpack for you; AI labels still need a human glance |
You can mix them. QR on the box is useless without contents. A photo inventory without a destination room is only half a move plan.
You still pack. An app does not fold shirts. It does not find a box you never labeled.
Point your camera at a room and Vorby identifies items automatically. No manual entry needed for most objects.
Every item is categorized by room and location. Find anything instantly with smart search across your entire inventory.
Generate shareable links, QR codes, and export reports for insurance, movers, family members, or anyone who needs access.
Get the app from the App Store. Your first scan is free, no account required.
Walk through your home and let AI detect your items. Add details, values, and receipts as needed.
Group items by room, add warranty dates, attach receipts, and assign QR codes to physical storage.
Generate reports for insurance, share links with family, or export your full inventory any time you need it.
A claim wants the drill and the bike, not a guess about the TV. Room photos, serials, and a list you can hand over. Not a camera-roll dump.
Document assets for heirs and executors. Create a complete, shareable record of your home contents for estate planning.
Catalog your art, wine, jewelry, watches, and collectibles with photos, values, and warranty dates. Know what you own, always.
Your first scan is free. See how easy it is to catalog your home.