Packing lists
 

We're starting to pack our things in the hope of moving in the next couple of months or so, and writing an inventory as we go along, both for Customs and so we know what's missing if anything gets lost. How detailed does the list need to be in order to satisfy both Customs and the insurance of a typical shipping company? For example, while packing books we've noted the titles of all the books in each box, but not the costs or anything. If we had to do that, we'd be here forever. What about things like framed photos? Can I just put "10 framed photos", for example?

Re: Packing lists
 

I don't know what the official answer is, and I'm sure others will weigh in in due course.

From memory (we moved 4 years ago) we simply noted that "Box 47 contains books, photographs, magazines" etc. Certainly didn't go to the lengths you've described.

Did dispose of the worst of my porn collection beforehand though...

Re: Packing lists
 

but not your "101 things to make with Sprouts" book ;)

Re: Packing lists
 

Some things are just too dirty to throw away...

Re: Packing lists
 

If you are using a shipping company I would ask them...if not ask the insurance company how detailed they require the inventory to be. If I remember correctly we put 6 x pictures in frames...48 piece 'insert make' dinner service etc.

Re: Packing lists
 

We used a shipping company and they wrote the lists as they packed.
They were really good and it was very straightforward.

The lists were fairly detailed but not to the point of book titles.
They also helped me work out values for insurance. We don't really have any valuable stuff so perhaps that made it easier.

Re: Packing lists
 

When we first moved Pickfords did exactly the same. 3 years later when we sold our house in the UK we shipped a further half dozen or so boxes...we packed and labelled them ourselves and Pickfords collected them.

Re: Packing lists
 

We did the same. The shippers gave us a copy of the list (box/item # and contents/description). This was handy as I was able to annotate it by room in the new house, so when the guys turned up with our stuff, I could say "Box 1 - Front bedroom, box 2 - Living room, box 3 - upstairs, etc." whic really speeded things up.

On marine insurance - we took the lump sum valuation option. It's a little under £40 a cubic foot, so our 500 cu ft was valued at roughly £20K. We paid 2.5% (£500) for loss or damage cover and an additional 1% (£200) for mold/damp/mildew/electrical cover.

As mentioned on other threads - the key thing was, we didn't "pack" anything ourselves (the quotes are because we did put stuff in boxes, but left them open for the packers to inspect and seal). This is because customs apparently don't like to see PBO (Packed By Owner) on a manifest.

Re: Packing lists
 

I packed my own stuff, but had very little anyway - only six tea chest boxes. I simply wrote stuff like '10 books' or '30 CDs' and that was that. That seemed to be fine with everyone involved...

Re: Packing lists
 

Yeah, my reason for noting the book titles was more to do with knowing what to replace if any box went missing than to satisfy other people's requirements.

Thanks to chartreuse for the tip about not sealing boxes.

I'll ask Pickfords for more advice when I go in to buy more boxes.

Re: Packing lists
 

I am pretty sure that having PBO contributed, (when I shipped over my belongings in a 20ft container), to my container being chosen for a VACIS exam.
However, each box had a number, and a list of contents attached to the box. The lists were very specific for boxes containing books, CD's and computer equipment and other more costly items. The lists were more general for items such as blankets, clothes and toys. One thing I did do, was take pictures of the contents of each box; probably over kill, but if I needed to prove what I had packed, I had some evidence.

Re: Packing lists
 

Unless you are doing the packing there is no way you can have detailed contents of every box.
Having moved more than enough times, I can tell you when there are 4 guys in different rooms packing boxes, there is no way you can keep up with them the speed at which they pack boxes.
As Carrot Cruncher says PBO (packed by owner) tends to raise red flags to customs and also to the movers as we tend to ‘over pack’ heavy boxes with insufficient stuffing.
I would suggest that you take inventory of your books, CD’s or DVD’s etc. before they are packed up so you have a list to compare with if you think you have lost a box or 2 at the other end.

Re: Packing lists
 

Related question as we are also in the pre-shipping phase...

When we got the quote, the shipping company told us we would need to clean the climbing frame as the US are very cautious about any foreign soil coming in. Does anyone know how meticulous this needs to be? eg. Do we have to have spotless bicycle tyres. Will they check our walking boots etc. etc?

Cheers,

Doug.

Re: Packing lists
 

If you go to http://help.cbp.gov and click the link for
Find an Answer, Ask a Question
We have over 600 answers to your most frequently asked questions, as well as a few that aren’t so common. Please use this page to research the information you need. If you do not find it, or have additional questions, you will then be given an opportunity to send us a question. (But you have to do your homework first).

you might find the info you need.

Re: Packing lists
 

We are hoping to move to San Fransisco area in October H1B permitting, and when I rang round removals they said if we packed our selves we had to list every item if they didnt then it was nt needed as they did customs paperwork so i suggest you check with the company you are shipping with.