I labeled the contents of every box, made a list of all the boxes...then started thinking about establishing a value for each box. UUGH. Then I read that you could list major categories (clothing, dishware, pots and pans, etc) and put a value on the categories. I filled the form with the categories (in pencil of course because I was sure I had it wrong) and the Customs officer said it was too general. So I mentioned that I had read categories were permissible and showed him my 4 page list of boxes and their contents. Suddenly, the generalized categories were acceptable! When I arrived at the border every late on a snowy, cold Sunday night, the border officer looked at my goods to follow form and asked if that was "all I had." When I answered yes, he sent me to customs with a note to "Verify" and I met the same customs officer who had helped me complete the forms when I landed. He just stamped the form, noting that I still had to import my car, and sent me on my way. I may have just been lucky the fellow remembered me.
From my experience, yes, categories are fine for household goods and clothing. What they seemed particularly interested in are items of "significant value".
Just be sure to list these items separately...
computers and other electronic equipment with serial numbers (I only had two small old tvs)
jewelry that is not costume, ie gold, diamonds, etc (I remember reading to take photos of these and submit written appraisals so you won't have to dig them out at the border). My list contained only costume jewelry of not much value, so that wasn't an issue for me.
Any vehicles with the Vehicle Identification Number, title, make, year, and model (and be sure it is admissible to import to Canada)
anything else that would be of significant interest...coin collections, major appliances, firearms, you get the idea...
I was worried that I would be stuck at the border for hours as they searched my uhaul truck opening boxes and asking me to find specific items, like my jewelry box. In my nightmares about this I imagined that I would be responsible for wrestling all my goods back into the truck at the end of the search, which I would NOT be able to do because of back problems. Fortunately, it all went smoothly and took less than 30 minutes. Hope that helps.
