How to Organize Important Documents at Home – A Detailed Guide

Even though we live in a digital era, there are still a lot of papers we need to keep and file away. If you are thinking about moving overseas, you will have to figure out how to organize important documents at home before your move.

So how to organize important papers at home? The best way to organize is by using a file folder and storing your records in one place, like a cabinet. The trick is to set some time to go through all the files thoroughly. And last but not least, labeling each folder is crucial.

Buy Tools and Choose the Right Storing Method

Storing and organizing important documents is not only desirable when you are moving internationally but for everyday life. And trust us, once you learn how to organize documents at the house, you will feel much better. The first thing you must do is buy tools and materials for storing and decide where to store important documents. There are a couple of storage options you can choose.

Choose the option that fits your house decor the best way. However, if you are planning to book international movers and relocate across the world, storing will be something you will have to adjust to your new house. If this is the case with you, all you will need are folders and labels. Here is the equipment you need:

• Folders,
• Cabinet or filing boxes,
• Desktop organizer,
• Shredder,
• Labels and markers.

Put All Your Records in One Place and Start Sorting

In order to learn how to keep important documents organized, you first have to know the difference between important and none important ones. If you are moving internationally, don’t make a classic relocation mistake and start doing this a week before your move. Living overseas will demand a lot of preparation, and if you wish to move efficiently, you will have to set a couple of hours aside to organize everything.

And trust us – booking an international moving company for an international moving service will be the least of your worries. You will have to apply for a visa and prepare travel documents, find a place to live, and get a job overseas. So start sorting on time and divide your records into the following categories:

• Action – These are the papers you must take action with in the near future, such as bills, coupons, invitations, and reminders.
• Personal – Here, you will archive all your personal documents, such as diplomas, medical and health records, contracts, deeds, leases, tax returns, and others.
• Household – These things you will have to put on your moving to-do lists, such as travel documents and passports, but also papers you will require after you move, such as user manuals.
• Recycle – Here you will put all the junk mail you have, such as magazines, used coupons, envelopes, and old homework. Note you shouldn’t recycle anything that has your information on it. 
• Shred – To avoid identity theft and other fraudulent activities, you should shred everything that contains your personal information, but you don’t need it anymore.

File Away Your Personal Paperwork Like a Boss

Once you implement our tips on how to store important documents, you will see the true benefits of moving. Because let’s face it, we all keep our important papers scattered around the house. And if you wonder what is the best way to organize important documents, the answer lies in using filing folders or, even better, a case. If you are relocating with kids and family, make the filling case for each family member.

Here you can store all the records, seal them, and label them easily. You can easily pack these cases in the essentials bag and carry them with you. Because, as you probably know, while important records aren’t among the things movers won’t move, they shouldn’t be left in a container that’s impossible to get to.

You may get some inspiration on how to store important documents at home from following video.

Organize Household Papers

Household records are probably the most annoying kind of paperwork. You require them, true, but not so often. Still, if you throw them away, Murphy’s law will certainly kick in, and you probably gonna need them the day after. So what is the best way to organize paperwork at home?

For example, you can designate one drawer in your cabinet for these records. However, if you are planning to move to another country, a better option is a binder. Of course, toss away household records you will not pack for moving abroad. You can make separate sections in a binder for different records, such as user manuals, paid bills, coupons, and others.

Working From Home? Take Special Care of Your Office

If you are working from home, you probably have a bunch of work records on your desk. To organize these papers like the ones above, create two piles – one for tossing and one for keeping. If you are still keeping records from your old job, throw them away. Or, if you think you will require those records again, look and see whether they are stored somewhere on your computer. If they are not, scan them and keep them that way. Likewise, all presentations or notes should be scanned.

The only important things you have to keep from your home office are legal records, contacts, drawings, plans, financial records, and such. Binder is the best way to store these records, and depending on the amount of papers you have, you can divide them into a couple of categories. And, of course, if you work as an architect or engineer, you probably know the best way to store drawings or plans.

What About Memories?

Photos, your kids’ old school projects, and other memories such as letters or postcards you should keep in one box and store away once you relocate. It really doesn’t matter how you would like to store these records – what is important is to throw away those that don’t mean much to you. So if you hold that piece of memory in your hand and no particular emotion comes from it, just throw it away.

Also, make sure to label this box as a memory box. If you have time, you can go the extra mile and buy a photo album to store photos there. This way, the photos will be protected better.

Separate Mail for Shredding and Recycling

As we mentioned, you must be careful when tossing away records from your house, especially if they contain personal information. So read each paper from this category carefully before tossing it on a designated pile. Just to be sure, go through that pile again once you are done with sorting to make sure nothing important is thrown away by accident.

Or, you can leave this pile for another day. Because, by that point, you will likely lose nerves and concentration and maybe miss out on something important. And, if you are moving for the first time and on a budget, you can keep this garbage and use it as a protective material for packing fragile items like glasses.

Yes, you can actually use the clutter and save some money. Another thing you can do is use results from shredding as cushioning. As you know, when packing especially bulky and oddly shaped items, the best way to prevent breaking is to fill out the hollow space inside the box. And what is the better way to do so than from your own confetti station? 

Last but Not Least, Set Up an Account on the Cloud and Go Digital

Well, nobody said it would be easy, and yes, the moment has come to finally do this. Scan everything and put it on the cloud, especially if you are relocating to some faraway country. You will probably have a couple of layovers. For example, at least two if you’re moving from the US to New Zealand, and your baggage can get lost. So, scan all the important records that you will not put in your carry-on with you.

How Long Should I Keep Records of My Paperwork?

One important thing to mention is that you don’t have to keep all your records. There are sort of unwritten rules on how long you should keep different kinds of important files. So when separating them into piles, take this into consideration as well. You don’t have to clutter if it is not necessarily. Take a look at the list of how long certain files should be kept.

Type of document	Period	How to dispose of
Bank Statements	One year	Shredding
Medical Records	Whole life	Keep
Medical Bills	At least one year	Shredding
Utility Bills	At least one month	Shredding
Coupons	Until expired	Recycle
Receipts	Unless you require them you can throw them away immediately	Recycle
Property Records (titles, deeds, mortgage statements, and insurance policies)	As long as you own the property	Shredding
Personal Records	Whole life	Keep

How to Organize Important Documents at Home and How to Prepare for Moving Overseas?

So now that you know the answer to the question of “how do I keep important documents at home?” it is time to learn how to pack those records for moving overseas. Aside from truly important records you will bring with you on a plane, others you will have to ship overseas. As you know, shipping overseas will last long, and it does involve sea and humidity.

The best course of action to prevent your stuff from getting damaged by the moisture is to put each pile in a plastic bag or wrap the whole box with plastic tape. In any case, make sure to ask your international moving company for advice.

Finally, these boxes of yours will go through the custom, and if the boxes are “overpacked,” they will rouse the suspicion and most certainly be set aside for further checks. But if you label these boxes properly, they will not be inspected. But you can avoid all these worries and complications ifyou book a company for packing service so the professional international mover can pack everything properly for this kind of move and conditions.

Keep Contract With Your Moving Company Until You Arrive

First of all, if your preferred international moving company doesn’t offer you a contract, walk away from that team immediately because it’s probably a moving scam. A legit moving company will provide you with a contract and explain all the terms and conditions. You will probably have moving insurance for your belongings as well, and if you are shipping a car overseas, even more things will appear. Store all of them in one moving binder.

Aside from contracts and policies, you should keep other information regarding your move, such as your budget, important dates, new location info, and contact information of your relocation agent. Here you can store your checklist of things needed for relocating abroad. So you have remainder with you at all times. Keep this binder with your important documents in your carry-on bag.