How to Make a Home Information Binder for Critical House-Related Paperwork

When you buy a house, be sure to ask the prior homeowners (if any) if they have information about the house's appliances, repairs, etc. When the dishwasher breaks the night before Thanksgiving you'll be happy that the previous owners have the instruction manual for the dishwasher—with information about who to call to get it repaired or, better yet, how to fix it yourself—in a 3-ring binder with all of the other major appliance information.

Your home information binder should include manuals, receipts, specialty tools for adjustments, maintenance, and warranty information for all of the following that are applicable to your house:

• Dishwasher
• Refrigerator
• Trash compactor
• Built-in water filter
• Garbage disposal
• Oven (and cooktop, if separate)
• Built-in microwave oven
• Ceiling fans
• Clothes washer
• Clothes dryer
• Furnace, including the size of furnace filter you'll need to buy and replace (It's also good to write this information in permanent marker on the furnace duct near the filter.)
• Humidifier/dehumidifier
• Whole-house air cleaner
• Heat pump
• Air conditioner
• The name of the paint or wallpaper on each wall (color chips or wallpaper samples are best, with notes as to which room they refer to), including the brand name and any code numbers associated with the paint
• The brand and color name of the carpeting in each room and the details about the carpet padding
• Roofing material (shingles, adobe, metal, etc.)
• Garage door opener
• Home security system
• In-ground sprinkler system
• Windows and doors
• Pool
• Hot tub
• Sauna

• Information about any improvements you've made to the house, such as replacing windows and doors, adding a deck, or major construction.
• Routine maintenance schedules
• The plot of your land, including where underground infrastructure (electricity, gas, etc.) lines run.
• The landscaping blueprints, if the yard was professionally landscaped.
• Any home inspection reports done by a professional inspector.
• Names of the companies or individuals who have done work on your house.
• A map of your immediate neighborhood and the names and phone numbers of your neighbors are also quite helpful.

Even if you don't currently have a binder, and don't particularly want to hunt down all of this information, it's not too late. Start a large (3 inch D-ring is best) binder. Then, any time you run across information, you can quickly 3-hole punch it and place it in the binder. Also, any time you have work done on your house you can include originals (keep copies) of the work orders, lien waivers, etc.

Cans of extra paint? Take clear photos of the paint cans. Print them out and put them in the binder with a description of where you used that paint in the house.

Wallpaper? Same thing. Information about the wallpaper is usually printed on the back side of the wallpaper for your reference. Photograph both sides and keep the photos together.

This speedy trick can be used with many of your appliances, too. Instruction manuals can often be found online (Google the appliance name).

With a smartphone camera, computer, and printer, in 15-30 minutes you can have a fairly well-populated home information binder.

Then, as things change, remember to add all of the information that you'd really want in there in case of a breakdown in that appliance or major scrape to the middle of your living room wall, the name of the repair contractor, etc.

Once you have a binder, remember to keep it updated as things change. Rule of thumb: add all of the information that you'd really want in there in case of a breakdown in an appliance or major crack in the middle of your living room wall, the name of the repair contractor who fixed your deck or door, a good locksmith, and so on.

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