Before you compare quotes or start packing, make a list of what is actually moving. A room count is a starting point. An inventory adds the detail a mover needs to understand the job. You can build one on your phone, in a document, or on paper—whatever makes it easiest to keep the list current.
Living and dining rooms
List sofas, chairs, tables, bookcases, media furniture, lamps, and larger decorative pieces. Note sectionals as separate pieces where appropriate. Include dining tables, chairs, sideboards, display cabinets, and anything stored inside them that will travel in boxes.
For unusually large or delicate furniture, add a short description. Note if a piece may need disassembly, has glass panels, or requires a particular route through the doorway. Photographs can be useful when the quote process asks for them.
Bedrooms and closets
Count bed frames, mattresses, dressers, nightstands, desks, mirrors, and shelving. Include bedroom chairs, televisions, and other furniture that might be easy to overlook. Think about how clothing, shoes, bedding, and closet contents will be packed.
Keep a separate note for what you plan to donate, sell, or leave behind. An inventory of everything in the house is different from an inventory of everything the mover will transport.
Kitchen, laundry, and appliances
List any appliances you are actually moving rather than assuming they stay with the property. Check their preparation and transport instructions. Include small kitchen appliances and the estimated boxes for dishes, cookware, pantry items, and utensils.
If an appliance requires disconnection or another specialist task, clarify who will arrange it. Put that responsibility into the plan instead of leaving it as a moving-day assumption.
Garage, patio, and storage
Walk through spaces outside your main rooms. List bicycles, tools, workbenches, exercise equipment, cabinets, patio furniture, grills, and outdoor items. Check sheds and storage units, and identify any additional pickup address before a quote is prepared.
Ask about items that need separate handling or may not be accepted for transport. Do not pack hazardous or restricted materials into ordinary boxes without checking the mover’s requirements.
Add the access inventory
Your belongings are only part of the information. Record the floor at each address, flights of stairs, elevator availability, parking conditions, and the distance between loading space and the door. Include narrow hallways, gates, building reservations, and time restrictions.
For a move in Flagstaff or Northern Arizona, describe driveway and surface conditions. For Phoenix and Tucson moves, identify any apartment loading rules or limited truck access.
Keep the list current
Review the inventory before accepting your written quote. If the move changes, update DrMove before moving day so the quote can reflect the revised scope. Keep immediate essentials, valuables, documents, and personal items you want with you on a separate list.
With your inventory ready, read what to review in a binding moving quote or start your DrMove quote online.