Start a Home Information Binder

Owning a home comes with a surprising amount of paperwork—and when you actually need something, it can be nearly impossible to remember where you put it.

September is a great time to spend an afternoon creating a simple Home Information Binder where you can keep the important details about your home all in one place.

📁 WHAT SHOULD YOU KEEP?

🔧 Repairs & Improvements
Keep receipts, invoices, contractor information, warranties, and dates for major repairs or upgrades.

🏠 Major Home Systems
Record the age, model information, service history, and warranty details for your HVAC, water heater, roof, appliances, and other major systems.

🎨 Home Details
Save paint colors, flooring information, cabinet finishes, countertop materials, appliance models, and other details you'll want when it's time for a repair or touch-up.

📋 Service Providers
Keep contact information for trusted plumbers, electricians, HVAC companies, landscapers, pest-control companies, and other professionals you've used.

🛡️ Insurance Information
Keep your policy information and a home inventory somewhere secure and accessible. For sensitive documents, consider secure digital storage rather than leaving originals in an everyday household binder.

📸 Before & After Photos
Document renovations and major improvements as you make them.

💡 WHY IT'S WORTH DOING

Your Home Information Binder isn't just useful when something breaks.

It can help you stay on top of maintenance, remember when major systems were serviced, provide information for insurance purposes, and make preparing your home for sale much easier someday.

Bonus idea: Create a matching digital folder and scan your most important documents so you have a backup.

SEPTEMBER HOMEOWNER CHALLENGE

Grab a binder—or create a folder on your computer—and spend 30 minutes gathering everything you already have.

You don't have to finish it in one day. Start with your HVAC, roof, water heater, appliances, and recent improvements, then build from there.

Your future homeowner self will be very glad you did. 🏡🤍