Get Organized and Avoid Losing Items During Your Move

No matter how much care we take when packing, something always manages to get lost.

Losing items during a move

Whether movers actually lose boxes or a cherished item was stuffed into an unfamiliar box at the last minute, the likelihood that something will go missing seems to be roughly 100%.

If you stop, take a step back, take a deep breath and think realistically about your move, there’s a lot you can do to minimize loss. You can also reduce some of the stress associated with moving.

So how do you go about unlocking the mystery of totally accounted-for moving? It’s all about being organized.

Pack one room at a time

Sounds like a pain, right? And maybe it is, but you’ll appreciate your diligence once you’re in your new place.

Put a few empty boxes and packing materials in each room of the home you’re vacating. Start at one point in the room—your choice, we won’t quibble—and work your way around the room until everything is packed.

Bonus tip: Tape a piece of paper to the inside top flap of each box. Each time you put something in the box, make a note of it on the paper. When it’s time to unpack, you’ll know exactly what’s in each box.

Mind your electronics

With all the gadgets and electronics in our lives—laptops, TVs, game systems, music-streaming devices and more—there are many ways to lose the power (and other) cords that go along with them during a move.

The solution: Get those cords in a bag! For each item, get a zip-lock bag and load it with the corresponding cords. Then tape the bag directly to your TV, stereo, or what-have-you. This way, when you set up the items on the other end of your move, you’ll know exactly where everything is.

Create a moving checklist

Make a master list of what’s in all the boxes and which room each box goes into, so you have control over what’s where and where it’ll go in your new place.

Label it, label it, label it

On each box, clearly mark the name of the room where it’s to go in your new home—do this on the top and the sides of the box. Also, mark the box with “this end up” (arrows will help, too) or “fragile,” so proper care can be taken, reducing the likelihood your stuff will get broken.

Is going to all this trouble enough to make you grumble? Probably. But we promise that once you’ve made the move and start unpacking, you’ll thank yourself for your hard work over and over and over again.