The numbers for the super, the handyman, a next door neighbor, the dry cleaner. Menus for my favorite local delivery services and a few places in strolling distance. The warranty for my new garbage disposal. These are among the items that can be found in my home journal.
When I left my home in the care of a friend last year, I created a home journal to answer all the questions she might have about both my apartment and my neighborhood. When I got back, I kept it intact. It's become a handy reference tool for everything that has to do with my home.
If you're interested in making your own home journal, start with a three-ring notebook and a few dividers. While you'll want to adapt this to your own home, here are the basics of what's in mine:
• A basic introduction and a list of instructions for anyone who stays at my home
• A list of relevant phone numbers, from my landlord to my upholsterer
• Menus from the local places that deliver
• Warranties and instructions for the major appliances (refrigerator, stove, in-sink garbage disposal) and the receipts (if I have them)
• A note on paint colors and fabric swatches for each room
• A calendar noting things like the last time a room was painted and the exterminator's last visit.
• Lists of things that need to be done around my home each month and each quarter.
It's also the place I keep information I wouldn't know where to store otherwise: the details on the place that picks up and recycles holiday trees, a floor plan, the measurements of my larger pieces of furniture, the home projects I'm planning, a running list of pieces I'm hoping to purchase, information on my homeowner's insurance. Customize it to your own home: you might add want to add information about your pets, your kids' schools, the name of your mailman or the dates of your regular deliveries.
(Images: 1. Leah Moss, 2.Abigail Stone)
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True Greek Recipe: Paximadi Bread Salad with Tomatoes, Feta and Capers
True Greek Recipe: Paximadi Bread Salad with Tomatoes, Feta and Capers
Good list. Yes, this is really important to keep up to date and organized. And for home owners, if you keep the receipts you can deduct the cost of improvements from the taxes you owe on the profit you make from selling your house. Note, this only counts for improvements, not maintenance.
You can't go wrong with measurements of each room, window dimensions, etc....
If you see pictures in magazines/catalogs it's a great place to stash your dream visions.
holy crap I love the globe light
We keep one that includes all of the major items and remodeling items we did when we first moved into our home. It came in super handy for trying to order additional blinds (I have the original fabric swatch to match to) and getting a replacement kitchen sink faucet sprayer (lifetime guarantee!) 7 years later.
This is a great thing to keep for a house. My mom had a binder with the date that the furnace was replaced and service appts after that. When the roof was re-shingled and the warranty, all kinds of info on major appliances. When we sold the house, the realtor and later the buyer were so grateful. Nope, I haven't made one for my house yet.
Great idea!!
I do something like this. Only my warranty file is in my file cabinet. Besides information on when something was changed in my house, I also chart when I planted something or a new animal comes to the farm. Its more of a timeline so we can keep up with the changes we have made to our farm and home.
I love the globe light too... link please?
What a great idea. I have an binder for myself - contact info, emergency numbers, important documents and a couple of emergency $20 bills - but never thought about doing one for my place! It's like a hotel guide for your home.
This is so useful. This weekend I am getting a binder and doing this! Thanks AT! We need more articles on this type of stuff!
We've done this for years, and passed the journals on to the next owner. One for appliances, one for important dates and phone numbers, one with pictures of the house before remodeling, and one of menus from our favorite restaurants. We've always gotten big thank yous, especially for the menus!
I just bought my first apartment; I just did a little renovation and move in tomorrow; I am *absolutely* doing this. I can already compile receipts and contact information from my contractor & electrician, the letter I wrote to my coöp board reporting a roof leak, paint colors, measurements, etc. Thank you so much for the idea. I plan to sell within ten years, so I can imagine this being a big help to a buyer, as well as to myself along the way!
I really wish the previous owner had done this for the garden. She was a master gardener and my yard is full of rare specimen plants. It would be so helpful to know what exactly they are and notes for any special needs they might have.
Great idea. I included our houseplans (custom build) next to manuals and in-process photos of plumbing, electrical wires, and wiring for speakers. Now hidden by drywall, we've avoided drilling into functional necessities as we've decorated. http://wellletsgoforit.blogspot.com/
I do this for every flat/ apartment I have ever lived in. The file also contains the info for each bill for utilities etc as well.
Every time a trades man comes his card goes into the folder.
Every letter/ invoice/ bill we recieve goes into the folder.
Bank statements into the file.
This way everything is in one place. :)