How do you inventory a garden shed without losing a weekend?
Start with powered tools in daylight at the shed door. Create places like Shed / Left wall and Shed / Bench, photograph each mower or trimmer with the model plate visible, then sweep hand tools in zones. Ordinary rakes can share a group item; sharp specialty shears deserve their own cards.
Which tools need their own photos?
Anything with a motor or battery, anything you would replace at full price, and anything a neighbor might borrow. Closed storage boxes get a place photo first. Open them when you are ready to catalog blades, line spools, and spare parts.
- Zone the shed: Shed / Power tools, Shed / Hand tools, Shed / Pots and soil.
- Photograph model stickers and serials on mowers and trimmers.
- Note which batteries and chargers belong together.
- When a tool is sold on eBay or discarded, mark it departed the same day.
Spring rush buys duplicates because last autumn's shed felt unknowable. A short catalog turns "do we own an edger?" into a search - and makes lending tools to neighbors less of a memory test.
FAQ
Should every hand trowel be its own item?
No. Group ordinary hand tools. Give forged or specialty shears clearer entries.
What about chemicals and fertilizers?
Photograph labels and note quantities carefully. Keep them as their own place so tools and chemicals stay distinct.
Can I use this list when lending tools?
Yes. A dated photo list makes it obvious what left the shed and what should come back.
Can I list surplus tools from the catalog?
Yes. Clear photos and model details are the hard part of a listing - once they live in samla.ai, publishing to eBay is a review step.
