Residential moves are one of the most common triggers for dormant wallet situations. Devices and backup materials get packed in different boxes, stored temporarily with relatives, or left behind in forgotten drawers.
Before packing
Create a written inventory listing every hardware wallet and every backup location (safe, bank box, family member’s residence, office drawer). Do not write seed words in this inventory — only locations and container descriptions.
Photograph the condition of paper backups and steel plates before packing. Date-stamped photos help later if damage occurs in transit.
During the move
Transport hardware wallets and backup materials in your personal luggage, not in moving company shipments. Keep devices and backups in separate containers so a single lost box does not compromise both.
If you must use a safe deposit box during the transition, verify access hours at your new bank branch before depositing materials.
After settling
Within the first week at your new address, verify that all devices and backups arrived intact. Compare against your pre-move inventory. Update any location records in your household documentation.
If anything is missing or damaged, address it before the device becomes dormant again. A Seed Phrase Documentation Review can assess damage to backup materials after a move.
Long-term habit
Review your backup location inventory annually. Update it when you add a new device, create a new backup, or change storage locations. This single habit prevents most recovery emergencies we encounter.