Why a Furniture Inventory Matters Before a Move

Movers handle hundreds of items per job. Furniture gets scratched, scuffed, or goes missing. Without a record, filing a claim is nearly impossible. With a furniture inventory, you know exactly what you own, its condition before the move, and have documentation to back up any claim if something goes wrong.

Beyond protection, an inventory makes unpacking easier. When you arrive at your new home, you know which boxes contain which furniture pieces, what assembly is needed, and what to check first.

How To Build Your Furniture Inventory in 6 Steps

1. Walk through every room. Go room by room and list each piece of furniture. Do not skip closets, garages, or storage areas. You need a complete picture.
2. Take photos from multiple angles. Capture every surface, including drawers, shelves, and undersides where damage often hides. Date-stamp the photos so you have a record of condition at the time of the move.
3. Note dimensions and weight. Measure tall pieces, wide pieces, and anything that will not fit through a standard doorway. This helps movers plan and prevents surprises on moving day.
4. Record the condition of each piece. Note existing scratches, dents, loose joints, or worn fabric. This protects you if a mover claims an item was already damaged.
5. Assign each piece to a room. Label where each item goes in your new home. This tells movers exactly where to put things and saves you from rearranging later.
6. Store your inventory digitally. Keep it somewhere accessible from your phone. A home inventory app like Vorby lets you add photos, notes, and categories, and share access with movers or family if needed.

What To Include in Each Furniture Entry

The more detail you capture, the better. At minimum, record:

• Item name and description
• Dimensions (height, width, depth)
• Approximate weight
• Material (wood, metal, upholstered, glass)
• Current condition and any existing damage
• Photos from front, side, and back angles
• Estimated replacement value
• Assembly requirements (flat-pack, modular, custom)
• Special handling notes (fragile, two-person lift, disassembly required)

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Skipping storage areas. Items in a garage, attic, or basement are easy to forget and easy to lose during a move.
• Using only your memory. A mental list is not a furniture inventory. Write it down, photograph everything, and store it somewhere you can reach on moving day.
• Forgetting to update. If you acquire or dispose of furniture between now and moving day, update your inventory.
• Not sharing the list with your movers. A labeled inventory helps movers know where items go and which ones need extra care.

How Vorby Helps

Vorby is a home inventory app that lets you catalog furniture with photos, descriptions, and categories. You can search by room, material, or keyword, and keep the record updated across multiple moves. It turns a scattered list of furniture into an organized, searchable system you can access from your phone at any time.

Try Vorby free to build your furniture inventory before your next move.