organizing important documents

From birth certificates to credit card statements, social security cards to insurance information, your important documents are often the last things on your mind — right up until you need one of them. Whether it’s to catch up on this year’s taxes or open a new bank account, these rarely utilized documents can be a real headache if misplaced. It’s extra troublesome if these documents are misplaced during a move to a new city or town. That’s not even to mention the countless new property- and moving-related documents that you’ll acquire in the months leading to your move.

Though paperwork isn’t the most exciting part of a move, we have some key tips to keep your papers in place:

Organize and strategize: Learn to love folders, labels and lots of color coding. Even if you don’t plan on moving anytime in the near future, if you take the time to always keep your documents separated by type, properly labeled and color coded, you’ll be in good shape whenever you need to find your laptop’s warranty when the keyboard stops working or your passport before your big trip to Thailand. It takes a little work at first, but saves you valuable time and energy in the long run.

Make a list, check it twice: This Santa Claus tactic will surely work for you when you’re packing up important documents. Before the rush of a big move hits, avoid the dreaded flood of panic by being prepared. List out every important document, check the list to ensure nothing was overlooked, then start crossing off items as you pack them away. We always recommend that our customers take important documents with them rather than placing them in a box. What you consider important is subjective, but we recommend keeping the following by your side as you move: checkbooks, computer data backups, financial documents, jewelry, insurance policies, medical records, prescription medications and professional files.

Copy, copy, copy: Other than organizing important documents, you should also make an effort to photocopy your most important documents. Keep in mind, you should never make so many copies that you lose track of them, as this is an obvious security risk. However, keeping an extra “emergency stash” of your most vital documents in a safe location may be key to avoiding headaches in case you misplace anything after your move.

Though organizing important documents does take some preparation, commitment and discipline, you’ll see that it’s well worth the effort, especially during your next big move.

Please visit our website today for more information on how we can help during your next move, or call us today!