How to Organize Important Documents at Home in the Best Possible Way

According to one research, there are over 4 trillion paper documents in the US, and that number is growing at a rate of 22% per year. So it is not strange they get lost after some period. This happens because people often don’t know how to organize important documents at home or office. The most stressful situation can occur if you are planning on long-distance moving and you don’t even know where to start with all the paperwork and other important files you want to pack and bring.

You must have been in a situation where you couldn’t find that one paper you needed because they are all over the house, and you wished you had them in one place. After such an experience, you probably wonder how many times before you were searching for that one prescription or recipe that wasn’t where it should be.

No matter if you’re moving from a small to a big city, maintaining a large stack of files can be an exhausting task. If you want to learn how organizing important papers will save you a lot of trouble and make your life easier, keep reading to discover useful tricks on how to do it.

How to Organize Important Documents at Home – Gather Everything in One Spot

If you want to be productive, begin gathering all the paperwork in one place. The best way to do it is to sweep room by room. That way, you can check every drawer and shelf, and you won’t omit any essential or valuable paper, and creating the packing schedule will make your relocation a breeze. Also, don’t pass the closets and kitchen storage. Once you have a pile in one place, start checking and sorting in categories what is important and what is not. If you are making a checklist for moving to a new state with your family, know that sorting your paperwork will take one whole day or more. So, make sure you start planning on time because it will help you cope with moving anxiety.

Start Organizing Important Documents and Records by Sorting Them

Why do you wish to have everything together? Well, the next step would be sorting each document in the right category, and it is much easier and faster to do with all the material in one place.

Separate Your Papers Into Categories

Just think how easier it would be to plan to move in with your boyfriend or planning a relocation to another state alone. You’ll have all your paperwork already filed and ready to go. Here’s how you can easily manage everything with the following categories:

• Active – Everything you are using and will use in the future and be able to discard them after. In this group, you can put a grocery store list, invitations, reminders, and appointments. If you are relocating, in that case, the list of most commonly forgotten things to pack or a checklist of moving expenses would go in this category.
• Inactive – In this category, you can put items you have to keep, but you’ll use them more than a few times a year, such as academic and medical records, deeds, mortgage, home, and health insurance, bank statements, contracts, bills, birth and marriage certificates, house inventory, warranties and manuals of electronic devices (if you don’t look for donating your old appliances,) documentation for moving with pets, and so on.
• Household – Separate any document that you use daily and make your household operate easily, things like recipes, coupons, or user manuals.
• Shred – Newspapers, ads, magazines, and similar items would go in this category.

Don’t worry if you can’t make all the categories you want. If it’s your first time learning how to organize important papers, start small and make two or three sections, and in the future, if needed, you’ll make more. However, don’t despair if you have a lot of things to categorize and store. First, split some of them into smaller categories and subcategories. You can watch the video below to see other ideas on how to sort your papers.

Where to Store Important Documents

Where you will put all of your stored papers depends on how much space you have at your house. If you are wondering what you need to rent a new apartment, don’t forget to check if there is enough space for the storing of every file with any personal information. On the other hand, if you’re thinking about how to decorate a small apartment, the new built-in solutions that don’t require additional space will just be the thing you require.

Get Necessary Supplies for Filing Paperwork and File

If you’re creating a relocation checklist, make sure you add some supplies you’ll require to arrange your filing system and speed up the whole process. Here are the supplies needed:

• Boxes or filing cabinet – If you are planning on moving soon with your family, unpacking after relocation will leave you with many boxes so that they can be perfect for your essential paperwork. If you’re on a budget, check cheap relocating supplies, or go online and find free stuff on FreeCycle.
• Plastic bins – A plastic bin will undoubtedly last longer than standard cardboard packages, and that can be very handy for sorting mail.
• Hanging file folders – If you struggle with a lack of space, these hangers are a lifesaver. You can place them near your desk so you can easily reach coupons, bills, and other things you use daily.
• Tray dividers – Dividers will help you create order easily by separating sections according to your needs.
• Marker or pen – Marker pens are something you must have if you want to be organized like a pro. Write on each box or bin what is in it, and you’ll save yourself a lot of space and nerves.

Discard Everything You Don’t Need

Everything you don’t want anymore should be discarded. Start decluttering your piles and get rid of brochures, coupons, pamphlets, and any other promotional material that can be recycled. Shredding is another option for expired documentation with sensitive data. You certainly don’t want your personal information to be tracked down by an unknown person. Once you put aside the pile of things you don’t use, it would be much easier to start with organizing your files with the suggestions we wrote above.

Make Sure You Check if Documents are Up to Date

Make sure every document is up to date. Check medical and health records, passports, and everything with your personal information. If you are moving with cats, check their health insurance and vaccines. Do the same with every other document, ensure the security of personal data and toss the one that is expired.

The Right Way How to Keep Important Documents Organized

Keeping your documentation organized is a handful of a job. However, there are some tips on how to do it like a pro. Labeling everything will make your life easier when it comes to finding your important documentation. Make your own labeling system if you wish, but ensure you mark everything clear and write it with big and visible letters. Also, different color markers can categorize your files and ensure you know exactly where that one paper is. However, don’t forget to fold papers by their importance and daily usage.

How to Store Important Documents at Home

If it’s not your first time to move out, you know how much free space is important. When thinking about where to put your important documentation, the best way is to find a corner in your area that is not easily accessible. Reserve that space for bank statements, school records, and taxes. A filing cabinet is the best solution if you are looking for a safe place. If you are not on a budget, look for a vertical one because it doesn’t take too much space. There is also a lateral filing cabinet ideal for larger paper formats. On the other hand, if you are on a budget, with color-coded binders, letter trays, magazine holders, folders, and any other thing you already have you could be just as organized.

Choose Paperless and Go Online

Online storage might be a good solution if you don’t have enough storage space. Once created, you can easily access everything you have to check. Another positive side of virtual storage is that you can’t lose any contract or other important paper. This is an excellent way to avoid all the mess that unnecessary receipts and bills can make. Not to mention that this is a very important step in saving the environment.

Create One Account and Organize Virtual Storage

If you have recently moved, you are probably thinking about how to adjust to a new town and don’t want to spend any of your free hours on arranging emails. To make everything even more coordinated, you could make one account for everything. Just figure what a mess it could be if you have more than one mail address.For example, if you are moving for a job, you’ll have to create another mail account and then it gets messy. So, having only one inbox for your bills will make everything more organized and easier to handle.

With Well-Organized System Your Important Files Will Be Easy to Find

Whether you are cross country moving with your family any time soon or you just could have a guide to how to sort out your records, our article can come handy. However, if you are planning to hire professionals and wonder who are the best long-distance movers near me that could help with moving services and, for example, auto transport, start searching in advance.

You probably count on their packing services that include boxes and packing supplies. All long-distance moving services, as well as moving insurance and of course storage service will help you a lot when it comes to relocating. Not only will it save your energy, but it will also help you overcome anxiety about moving out. So, follow our guide on how to prepare and store your important paperwork, and enjoy your well-organized files.