We only become aware of how many things we have in our house when we start preparing to leave it and settle in a new one. Paperwork can be found in every corner of a house, so it’s essential to know how to organize important documents at home. Where to store them, and how to keep them from getting lost during a move?
So, how to organize important papers so they are easily accessible if you need them? We can show you some essential tips and tricks for organizing important documents that will help you keep them safe during your moving process. Keep reading to find out how to handle this tricky task.
How to Organize Important Documents at Home the Right Way When You’re Preparing for a Move?
Moving is usually the time when you realize how essential proper planning is and how good organizing can go a long way. One of your moving to-do list tasks will be to sort all the papers in your house. Trust us, you will see that you have many of those just lying around – they will be a problem once you start packing, and that’s why we suggest you take care of them before you get to packing books and furniture. Once you settle in your new family house in one of the best Chicago suburbs, you’ll see that this was worth the trouble – every file will be well-organized, and that will make your life so much easier.
Keep Your List of Tasks Close to You
Your to-do list will be your best friend in the days leading up to the move. You will carry it everywhere with you, and for a good reason. This file is crucial for your move, and it’s unavoidable if you know how to move efficiently. We trust that you also have a moving expenses checklist, right? Keep the two of these together, and your move will be way easier. People tend to overlook their importance, but we hope you won’t make that mistake.
Gather All the Papers and Divide Them Into Categories
Before you start sorting out any personal information or some less critical file you’re not even sure whether to keep, it would be great to gather all that stuff into one place – it’s a common and a brilliant moving hack. That will make it easier for you, plus you will work so much faster. Take a look at every room and grab every file you can find relevant and irrelevant. Bring all that to the kitchen table, as it should be a surface large enough for you to work smoothly. Grab a snack – this will take a while. Let the thought of your new place in the best neighborhood in Chicago motivate you to keep going once you get bored.
Four Essential Categories for Documentation Found in the House
Now it’s time to divide one huge pile into four smaller ones. This will be of use to you later when you store and pack these items separately. Let’s see which piles you will have to have organized before moving to your new, affordable neighborhood in Chicago.
- Records that need immediate action,
- Household records,
- Archive,
- Throw away.
We will explain this later, so you know what to store where. This organizing step might bring a bit of moving stress, but what part of moving preparation doesn’t? It’s crucial to get this done so you don’t lose something like your birth certificate or passport during your move. Ironically, these are some of the most commonly forgotten things to pack, even though they are precious.
Shred Papers Before You Throw Them Away
Now that you have your four piles before we continue, you should get rid of the things you don’t need, that is, the fourth pile. Those will only add to the chaos, and if they are of no use, you better get rid of them now. Decluttering is on the top of the list of things to do before moving. You just have to be careful when throwing away personal and sensitive information, such as tax receipts or bank statements. Stolen identity is the last thing you wish to happen. So, be sure to shred everything. If you don’t have a shredder, your office surely has, and in the worst case, you can simply tear the documentation in pieces.
Organize Moving-Related Files
Moving-related stuff is something you will use a lot during this period. These include to-do lists, packing lists, receipts from supply stores, and so on. They should be well-organized – you wouldn’t want to lose some of these. Not only will it be harder to keep track of the preparations you’ve done, but it would also make it challenging to keep track of your finances.
Have a Special File to Keep Separate All Moving-Specific Paperwork
You may wonder where your moving contract or insurance should be stored. They don’t seem to fit any of the piles. That’s because the moving documentation should be kept separately, so it’s easily found once you wish to take a look at it. Get one of the empty folders – we assume you have plenty since you’re sorting everything. Folders are unavoidable for filing items. Label the one you’ve chosen as a moving folder, and store everything moving-related inside. If you feel a bit creative, you can decorate it with stickers – why not bring some fun into this tedious task?
How to Organize Documents That Need Action?
What belongs to the pile labeled action? Well, those are things that require your immediate attention, such as bills, parking tickets, birthday invitations – basically, most of your mail. That’s the mail that must be answered, and you should take care of that as soon as you can. The chances are that you’ll forget all about some unexpected bills once you and your family settle in your new house, and all you want to do is rest.
So, to avoid overdue payments, better check that off the to-do list right now. Once you’re done with that, you can throw away this documentation, as you won’t be needing it any time soon. Ensure that you add new incoming mail to this pile and keep everything stored neatly somewhere accessible, like in the kitchen, in a lidded box, or in folders.
Take Care of Household Records
These are the records found in any house, and they help keep everything up and run. Those are user manuals, your notebook full of recipes, or some essential receipts that you keep. You can store these in a filing cabinet or a binder. Also, be sure you have them labeled adequately. You won’t look for these every day, but you’ll require them occasionally. For example, you will be glad you know where to find the user manual for your TV once packing a TV for moving becomes the next task on your to-do list.
Where to Store Important Documents That Belong to a House Archive?
Ah, the archive – every house has one, and it contains all of your absolutely essential documentation. Even if you didn’t want to bother with the rest of the piles, we suggest you don’t skip sorting through this one and making sure that everything is safely stored. If you are moving with pets or kids, you’ll want to ensure that this documentation is out of their reach. So, what earned the right to be stored in a house archive?
- Health records for each family member,
- Passports,
- Social security,
- Tax returns,
- Marriage records,
- Car, house, health, or life insurance,
- Birth certificates.
Keep in mind that confidential information brings them to the top of the list of items movers won’t move. These kinds of records aren’t something we require very often, so if you wish to keep them safe from the moving chaos, we suggest storing them in a storage facility with optimal security and proper conditions to prevent humidity damage. Don’t put them in the regular box you would pack clothes in – there are specially designed fireproof boxes that can keep your items safe from fire but also a flood.
How to Store Important Documents at Home?
How do I keep important documents at home? That question bothers many of us, and there isn’t an ultimate answer that can suit everybody. People come up with plenty of storing ideas and have their items organized differently. You will likely figure out the best way for you, but taking a look at how others did it can help a lot when you don’t know where to start. So, do your research, and you’ll have the answer.
What Is the Best Way to Organize Paperwork at Home?
We already mentioned some storing systems such as lidded boxes or binders. If the documentation is neatly organized, it doesn’t matter what kind of folder you put it in. Some of the convenient storing options we recommend include:
- Built-in shelves,
- Shelves with separate slots,
- Letter tray organizers,
- Stackable plastic bins,
- Wall organizers,
- Filing cabinets,
- Wardrobe shelves.
There are so many storing options to choose from, and you will probably have difficulties deciding on just one – consider combining a few. If you want to see how a professional would sort all the documentation found in a house, take a look at the video below. It will give you a lot of ideas.
Some Files Can Be Stored Digitally
Whatever you can store on your computer, you should. The fewer physical copies, the better. After all, what’s a technology for if not making our lives easier? And trust us, fewer binders to carry with you when you move to one of the affordable neighborhoods in Chicago will make a move easier. You should figure out how to organize your files for maximum productivity. There are tips and tricks that can help you do this, and you should apply them.
Your Online Storage Account Should Be Organized as Well
Having organized online storage will ensure easy access to all of your files and save you many nerves you’d lose looking for stuff on an unorganized computer. Make yourself a nice cup of coffee, and get to work. If you’re looking for help with this task, take a look at the video below, and it will all be much more clearer.
Now that You Know How to Keep Important Documents Organized, It’s Time You Organize Your Move – Contact the Best Chicago Movers
You already know how important it is to keep your belongings well organized, and the same goes for your residential moving. If you decide to hire our moving company in Chicago, you can be sure that your moving day will go without any glitches. You can enjoy your moving away party without any anxiety. Finding better moving services in Chicago is an impossible task – our movers are the top choice for any relocation help you may require. They are highly trained and experienced in providing moving services. There’s no such thing as too complex a task for our team.
For those who wish to move an office, we recommend our commercial moving service. There is no reason to panic about packing electronics – the best movers in Chicago are here for you, and they can help you if you don’t know how to pack a computer for your move. Why bother worrying about damaging expensive office devices when you can let professionals take care of everything for you? You can sit back and relax while we do the work.
Let Us Organize the Most Challenging Parts of Your Relocation
Our professional movers in Chicago are skilled, so if you don’t feel like packing your entire household inventory independently, you can book our packers and movers. Sure, you’ll likely figure out how to pack candles, but what are you going to do with fragile items? Our aid can go a long way, especially if you have to pack to move in a hurry. You don’t have to worry about the price – we are very affordable,and we can assure you that you’ll be satisfied with both the estimate and the end price. So, what are you waiting for? Contact us today, and let our moving company in Chicago make your move memorable and efficient.