I have used a cheap soil moisture meter; I bought at Lowe's, for the past 5 years. $6. It reads: WET/MOIST/DRY. It has a 8 inch metal probe.

Picking up pots in a crowded closet is not an option for me. I need to know the moisture level at the bottom of the pot. It also tells me how dense the roots are, too. Stick it in the pot- instant reading. I can check 11 pots in 1 minute.
The KISS principle.