New Home Owners – Get Organized!

A new house gives you the chance to start things out right, even if record keeping hasn’t been your strong point in the past. Here’s an idea that will keep your important records at your fingertips right from the start.

During the time you own your house, you may make repairs, improvements, and additions that will be hard to remember one day down the road when you’re ready to sell. Your job of disclosure will be so much easier if you have a handy reference at your disposal.

So get a large 3-ring binder and index tabs and include the following:
• Your original purchase agreement
• Seller disclosures
• Inspection reports
• Appliance warranties
• Receipts for home repairs

As you enjoy your home and make changes, add these things to your homeowner’s ‘bible’:
• Contractor quotes
• Repair or service tickets
• User’s manuals (for thermostats, pool equipment, garage door opener))
• Permits
• Receipts for home improvements And don’t forget to keep records of those less obvious things you’ll be glad you’ve noted:
• Paint colors • Tile and flooring manufacturers , style numbers and colors
• Fence stains
• Patio paver name
• Window covering styles and manufacturers

The fun part – a photo journal of your home. You will make changes while you live in your home and some will be so subtle, you won’t notice them day to day. But it’s nice to look back and really appreciate the fruits of your labor, so take lots of pictures.
• Photos of all rooms when you buy the house
• Pictures of landscaping, front and back
• Streetview –what does your neighborhood look like now
• Views
• Seasonal photos
• After photos, anytime you make a significant change to the house

The before and after photos will be fun for your family to look at and also will help you remember important improvements (and potentially disclosures) when you’re ready for that future sale. It will tell a story too, to the would-be buyer about how you’ve cared for the property. So is my own home record keeping this organized? Nope. I have all of these things, but not in a single location.  But when I buy my next house, it will be!

Livermore Real Estate

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