Did you know that more than half of Brits lose things while moving? A recent HMRC research found that 77% of people are stressed about keeping track of their belongings during a move. Moving home is stressful enough as it is – so we looked at the most commonly lost items when moving home, and how to make sure nothing goes missing in the chaos.
What are the most common things people lose when moving home?
A survey of 1,000 UK adults identified the items most frequently lost during a house move. These were the top 20.
- Chargers – more than 30% of people lose these in a move
- Screws needed to reassemble furniture
- Clothing
- Books
- One sock or shoe
- Tools
- TV remote
- Jewellery
- Toiletries
- Photographs
- Small appliances (hairdryer, kettle)
- Gardening equipment
- Financial documents – 59% of people say important documents are what they most worry about losing
- Money
- Reading glasses
- Wall clocks
- Game controllers
- Family heirlooms
- Passport
- Furniture
How to avoid losing things when moving home
Now you know the things most likely to go missing, here are the top tips from moving experts for keeping track of everything during your move.
Pack a day-one bag
One of the most effective ways to reduce moving stress is to pack a dedicated day-one bag or box – a single container holding everything you’ll need the moment you arrive. Good things to include are chargers, a change of clothes, medications, toiletries, snacks, clean bedding and a towel. Keeping essentials separate means you won’t be tearing open boxes at midnight looking for your toothbrush.
Bag your screws
The screws needed to reassemble furniture are one of the most commonly misplaced items during a move. Nobody wants to arrive at their new home and find they can’t put the bed together. Avoid this by sealing all screws and small components in a labelled sandwich bag, then taping it securely to one of the pieces of dismantled furniture it belongs to.
Use a moving checklist
Plan your move with a thorough moving checklist and tick off items as you load and unload them. This makes it easy to spot anything that hasn’t made it to your new address. Professional movers say it is surprisingly common to leave mirrors, clocks and paintings behind – items you’re so used to seeing that they fade into the background on moving day.
Label every box by room and number
While packing your boxes, label each one with its destination room and a sequence number – for example, “Living room 1 of 6”. If a box goes missing, you’ll know immediately. You can then check whether it was left on the van, in the old property, or just placed in the wrong room at the new one.
Declutter before you pack
The fewer items you have to move, the lower the chance of losing something important. Decluttering before your move also saves time, reduces the number of boxes you need and can cut the cost of your removal. If in doubt, get rid of it – you can always replace it.
Use proper packing boxes
Flimsy boxes split and spill their contents – often without you noticing until something is already lost. Proper packing boxes are worth the investment, but if you’d rather not spend the money, we have a guide to sourcing free moving boxes near you.
Photograph valuables before packing
For jewellery, family heirlooms and important documents, take a photo before they go into a box. This gives you a visual record of what is missing and is also useful for insurance purposes. Store the photos in a cloud folder so they’re accessible from any device during the move.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most commonly lost item when moving home?
Chargers are the most commonly lost item during a house move, with more than 30% of people reporting losing one. Furniture screws, clothing and important documents are also among the top items people misplace. Packing a dedicated day-one bag and labelling all boxes by room and number are the two most effective ways to reduce losses.
How do I keep track of my belongings during a move?
Use a numbered labelling system for your boxes – for example, “Kitchen 3 of 5” – and keep a written or digital inventory. Tick off boxes as they are loaded and again as they are unloaded. For small or high-value items, keep them in a dedicated bag that stays with you throughout the move rather than going on the van.
What documents do I need to keep safe when moving home?
Financial documents, passports and utility records are among the most commonly lost – and most important to protect. Keep documents in a clearly labelled folder in your day-one bag rather than in a removal box. You can find a full list of the documents you will need when setting up your new home in our guide to essential moving documents.
Should I update my address when I move?
Yes – updating your address promptly helps to ensure important post reaches you and avoids issues with banks, utilities and government services. You can use the Royal Mail redirection service to forward post from your old address while you update your details, and the GOV.UK address change service to notify HMRC and other government bodies in one place.
