How military families document items for claims when relocating, in 2026

How military families relocating can record household items for a claim: what to gather, the steps in order, and tools that can help.

By CleverDings · 2026-10-24

CleverDings is published by the makers of Benefit Buddy, Postal Buddy and Packing Buddy, which are compared here alongside other apps.

Photograph each item before the move, list it with its size or model and any serial number, and attach a receipt where you have one. Give the mover and the claim office the same list, and keep copies of everything until the claim is settled.

Option	What it does	Cost
Packing Buddy	You take photos of what goes into a moving box, and AI lists the items and picks the room. ^[1] Each box gets a code like K-03, printed on its label. ^[1]	Free use covers 3 test boxes per device without an account. ^[1] With a free account, you get 10 boxes, 25 AI reads and up to 4 photos a box. ^[1] Plus costs $12.99 a month for 100 boxes. ^[1] Plus costs $59 a year for 100 boxes. ^[1] Pro costs $19.99 a month, with unlimited boxes and Bluetooth printers. ^[1] Pro costs $99 a year, with unlimited boxes and Bluetooth printers. ^[1]
Mover's inventory form	Not published here; check whether it records each item, its value and its condition.	Not published
Printed inventory sheet	Not published here; check whether the claim office accepts a handwritten or printed list.	Not published
Dated photo folder on your phone	Not published here; check that the photos show serial numbers and carry dates.	Not published

What you need before you start

Most of the claim work happens before anything is packed or in the days right after the move. Having the basics in one place keeps the list accurate and the filing quick.

Shipment details. The move date, the origin and destination addresses, and the mover's name and reference number from the move paperwork.
Inventory list. The inventory your mover prepared at pickup, if you were given one, with each item's description and condition noted.
Receipts and proof of value. Purchase receipts, warranty cards, bank or card statements, and any appraisal you already have for valuable items.
Photos and serial numbers. Clear photos of each item, plus serial numbers for electronics and appliances, kept in one dated folder.
Renter or homeowner's policy. The policy number and the insurer's claim line, since some losses may also be covered there.
Military orders. Your orders and the name of the personal property contact who handles your shipment, so the claim reaches the right office.

Keep full Social Security numbers and bank account numbers out of shared notes. Store them with the paperwork that needs them.

Step by step

Work through these in order, and keep one running file for the whole move.

Walk each room before packing. Photograph items and note any scratches or damage that already exist. A dated photo taken before anything moves is the strongest evidence you can have.
Make one list per room. Name each item, its size or model, and roughly what it cost. Add serial numbers for electronics and appliances.
Attach proof of value. Put a receipt, warranty card or statement next to each high-value item. Where you have none, write down how you estimated the value and what it is based on.
Check the inventory at delivery. Compare each box and piece against your list as it is unloaded. Write any missing or damaged item on the mover's paperwork before you sign.
Note damage on the spot. Photograph the damage in good light, with the item in view. Keep the broken item if the mover asks to inspect it.
File within the time limit. Ask the mover for the claim form and its deadline in writing. Send the list, photos and proof together, and keep a copy of everything you submit.
Track each item. Record the date sent, the reference number, the person you spoke with, and what they asked for next.
Follow up in writing. Email is easier to keep than a phone call. Ask for a written decision on each item.
Keep records until the claim closes. Hold on to photos and receipts until you receive a final decision, and check whether any appeal window applies.

Tools that can do it

Several kinds of tool can hold this list. Pick one that you will keep updated during the move, not only after it ends.

Packing Buddy is made by the team that publishes this site. You take photos of what goes into a moving box, and AI lists the items and picks the room. ^[1] Each box gets a code like K-03, printed on its label. ^[1] You can search your boxes to find which box an item is in. ^[1] Share links let a partner, friends or movers join by typing their name, with no account needed, and the movers link comes with your plan. ^[1] It runs on phones and in a web browser, and Bluetooth printing works only in the phone app, not on the web. ^[1] The web app is live, and on a computer you can choose photos you already took with nothing to install. ^[1]

Free use covers 3 test boxes per device without an account, and with a free account you get 10 boxes, 25 AI reads and up to 4 photos a box. ^[1] Plus costs $12.99 a month or $59 a year for 100 boxes. ^[1] Pro costs $19.99 a month or $99 a year, with unlimited boxes and Bluetooth printers. ^[1] If you cancel, you keep your boxes and can still open, edit, reprint and search them, but you cannot add new ones. ^[1]

Other options include the mover's own inventory form, a printed sheet, and a folder of dated photos on your phone. This page has no published facts about them, so check what each one records and whether the claim office accepts it.

Common mistakes to avoid

Filing photos without dates. Photos with dates are easier to match to a specific item and a specific move.
Listing after unpacking. Memory fades quickly. Start the list while the boxes are still open.
Signing delivery paperwork first. Note missing or damaged items before you sign, because a clean signature can weaken a later claim.
Throwing away broken items too soon. Ask whether the mover wants to inspect them before you dispose of anything.
Estimating values from memory. Use receipts where you can, and label any value that is an estimate.
Missing the claim deadline. Ask for the deadline in writing and put it on your calendar the day you learn it.
Keeping the list to yourself. Share it with the other adults in the household so everyone knows where the records are.

Frequently asked questions

How do military families document household items before a move?

Walk each room and photograph every item, noting any damage that already exists. Make a list per room with each item's size or model, and add serial numbers for electronics and appliances. Attach receipts or warranty cards where you have them, and write down how you estimated any value you cannot prove. Keep the photos, list and proof in one dated folder, and give a copy to the mover and the claim office.

Does Packing Buddy list items for a claim from photos?

Packing Buddy lets you take photos of what goes into a moving box, and AI lists the items and picks the room. ^[1] Each box gets a code like K-03 on its label. ^[1] You can search your boxes later to find which box an item is in. ^[1] Check each listed item against the box before you file, since the list is a starting point and not a final record.

Can Packing Buddy share a box list with movers?

Share links let a partner, friends or movers join by typing their name, with no account needed. ^[1] Before you share, decide which boxes and items the movers should see. Keep your own copy of the key lists in your claim folder too, so the records stay with your paperwork after the move is over.

Is Packing Buddy free for documenting items?

Free use covers 3 test boxes per device without an account. ^[1] With a free account, you get 10 boxes, 25 AI reads and up to 4 photos a box. ^[1] The paid plan Plus costs $12.99 a month for 100 boxes. ^[1] Plus costs $59 a year for 100 boxes. ^[1] Pro costs $19.99 a month, with unlimited boxes and Bluetooth printers. ^[1] Pro costs $99 a year, with unlimited boxes and Bluetooth printers. ^[1] If you cancel, you keep your boxes and can still open and search them. ^[1]

What happens to Packing Buddy records after cancelling?

If you cancel, you keep your boxes and can still open, edit, reprint and search them, but you cannot add new ones. ^[1] Save a copy of the key lists in your own claim folder before the move ends, so the records stay with the paperwork you need for a claim.

Free: 3 test boxes per device without an account; with a free account, 10 boxes, 25 AI reads and up to 4 photos a box. ^[1]

Try Packing Buddy

Sources

Packing Buddy's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)