How much detail on my list of person belongings

[Canadiandggal 49]

Hey Guys,

I know this is a question that has been asked a zillion times but I cannot seem to find it in the search. I must not be typing it with the right wording. So here goes, I am packing up what little stuff I actually have and am trying to write it down as It goes into the box. However it seems if I write everything single thing down, theres going to be a few pages worth. do we just generalize? example my first box I packed.

I wrote Womens clothing, then i listed 3 long sleeved shirts,5 short sleeve shirts,5 sweaters,6 jeans,4 dress shirts and so on. Is this correct?

[Flames9_RN 358]

I didnt go into that much detail! out of boredom, I made a chart with MS Word! In the box i just put down clothes, kitchen utensils, books, etc--I didnt name every single item, just grouped them together. Custom dude said it was a better job then he would have done, but of course he was more interested in his solitaire game he was playing on his computer,lol

[Canadiandggal 49]

alright I will jujst put clothing :shirts,pants,sweaters.

sounds easier to me haha

Thanks

[Flames9_RN 358]

for my big ticket electronic items--i put down the serial # as well when i bought it!! ((5 of the time they dont even look at it!! But its that 1% that can be a pain,lol Better to write out some kind of list at home----then when ur hurried at the POE!

[Canadiandggal 49]

do you mean like the serial number on my laptop and Pc?

[Flames9_RN 358]

yep!! prob overkill, but I had time on my hands!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Yeah, you can group items together and box them, identifying them as : Summer clothes; Winter clothes; bedding; towels and linens; kitchen ware; dishes; pots and pans; cookware; knicknacks; books; office supplies - well you get the idea. For electronics it is best to record the item and serial number and year of purchase. They generally won't look at it, but if you get someone who is being officious, they will be looking at items that someone may be importing for resale. This seems to provide a level of reassurance that these items are for personal use only. That is the reason I was given, at any rate, for providing serial numbers for electronics.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

My list was atrocious! I'm lucky nobody wanted to see it. I got pretty bored and rushed at the end, so half the boxes just said "miscellaneous" To make matters worse, It was written out by me on scratch paper and was really, really illegible... Never heard of recording serial numbers and dates of purchase on electronics, but I can't see that being a bad idea.

[Canadiandggal 49]

Yeah, My scribble is kinda hard to read but i will do my best just in case they want to see.

[tbaygrrl 2]

I kept it simple, and I even crossed with a UHaul full and had no issues, the gaurd actually liked the system I did.

Each box was labled 1, 2, 3, etc... and then on a paper I wrote Box 1: sweaters & jeans, Box 2: shoes, Box 3: photos, etc...

No need to get into major detail, they just want a clear idea of whats in the boxes, they don't care what size pants you have, when you bought them, or for serial #'s. Alot of times, gaurds may not even look at the list.

Hope this helps,

[FireKari 4]

They didnt even ask me for a list, he just asked if it was all personal belongings.

Shone his light in, and said alrighty move to x spot.

Didnt care that the van was STUFFED or that I had a live animal.

[Marilyn. 340]

I would just put clothes...I really don't think they care what kind of clothes they are

[Kevbev09 1]

What's this list stuff, I never made a list nor labeled my boxes, no one told me I had to and I wasn't asked for it. The CO was sneaky and searched the car while we were in the waiting room (he wanted to see my ID, but all I brought in with me was my orange envelope and x-ray, and he wouldn't let us go back to the car so we gave him the keys and told him where my ID was in my bag). Might not even have known he was searching if he hadn't left everything lying open, he never said a word about it.

[OBX 51]

I kept it simple, and I even crossed with a UHaul full and had no issues, the gaurd actually liked the system I did.

Each box was labled 1, 2, 3, etc... and then on a paper I wrote Box 1: sweaters & jeans, Box 2: shoes, Box 3: photos, etc...

No need to get into major detail, they just want a clear idea of whats in the boxes, they don't care what size pants you have, when you bought them, or for serial #'s. Alot of times, gaurds may not even look at the list.

Hope this helps,

I did the same thing and had no problems. I made two trips prior to closing my house. The first trip I POEd, van packed to the rafters, barking dog....no one even asked what I was bringing in. Second trip a month later with two cats (and the dog again) the officer asked what I had, I showed her my list and that was it; she didn't even look.

[JoannaV 173]

Generalization is fine. The thing with the serial numbers is just in case you are unlucky and get a particularly by-the-book agent. If you have a tonne of electronics then you might want to be able to prove they're not newly purchased, just in case you're asked.