How do you catalog a box while packing it?
The habit costs seconds while your hands are already full of objects:
- Scan each item as it goes into the box
- Photograph the box itself, so you recognize it on a shelf
- Give the box its own place - 'Box 12, storage unit, back left' becomes a real address in the catalog
- Tape it shut with a clear conscience: every item inside carries that address with it
How do you find things months later?
The winter coats, the fondue set, the cable that definitely exists somewhere: type a word and the catalog answers with the item, its photo and its box. Places can nest as deep as your storage does - unit, shelf, box - and places and place photos are part of the free plan.
What about the movers and the paperwork?
When the move gets real, export a PDF grouped by location and the packing list writes itself - handy for movers, storage contracts or simply your own peace of mind (export is a Pro and Ultra feature).
FAQ
Do I have to unpack boxes to know what is in them?
Once they are scanned, never again - that is the point. Each item's photo, description and box live in the catalog, so 'which box has the raclette grill' is a search, and the answer includes the box's own photo and its place on the shelf.
How detailed should the places be?
As detailed as your storage actually is, and no more. A move across town might need only 'storage unit' and box numbers; a full house move earns unit, shelf and box. Places nest, so you can start rough and add depth where things pile up.
Is this worth doing for a storage unit I already rent?
Yes - the next visit is the chance. Photograph each box as you encounter it, scan what is inside the ones you open anyway, and the unit stops being a mystery within a couple of visits. The PDF export doubles as a contents list for the storage contract or your insurer.
