How to Make a Homeowner’s Journal

Owning a home is a big responsibility, and there are a lot of details to track: 

• How much did you pay for that refrigerator? Is it still under warranty?
• When was the last time you changed the air filters?
• Is it time to get the lawn fertilized?
• What color did we paint the dining room?

Keeping a homeowner's journal or homeowner’s manual can give you a place to track all these details so you’re not digging through owner’s manuals, receipts and old emails looking for information. It also gives you a place to keep a homeowner’s maintenance checklist, so you know nothing is slipping through the cracks. And it can be a place to store design ideas and inspiration so you can plan your home improvements. 

Here’s how to put together your house journal.  

1. Decide on a Format

You can use an app or website to create a digital journal, go old-school with a paper journal or blend both. 

• A digital journal can make it easy to add photos, video, audio, sketches and more.
• A paper journal is a simple place to store manuals, receipts and warranties. 

If you want to go all-digital, you can take photos of receipts and warranties. And in most cases, you can find online versions of owner’s manuals and download a PDF.

2. Figure Out What You Want to Include 

You may want your home manual to be solely practical, with details about maintenance and warranties. You may want to include home finances. And you might want it to be a holding place for future ideas and dreams. 

Depending on what you see as the purpose of your house journal, consider including: 

• Receipts, manuals and warranties for the household items you’ve purchased. That way, if something isn’t working right, you can troubleshoot or see if it’s covered under warranty.
• A homeowner maintenance schedule. Keep track of when you need to clean or change filters, check your dryer ducts, replace smoke detector batteries and take care of other household tasks.
• Regular household expenses. You may want to track your utility bills, homeowner’s insurance and property taxes so you have a good idea of how your home expenses factor into your overall budget.
• A video recording of a walkthrough of your home. This record is useful if you ever have damage from water, fire or smoke and you need to document what was damaged.
• An inventory of valuables. Keep a list of jewelry, electronics, artwork and any other valuables, along with an estimate of what they are worth.
• Interior design details and ideas. Track things like paint colors and wallpaper designs in case you need to make touchups. You can also keep a list of design and décor ideas, so when you’re ready to make upgrades and improvements you can refer to it.

Make Your Home Journal Work for You 

A home journal isn’t a one-and-done document. It should be something you and your spouse or partner refer to regularly. Set a calendar reminder to review it or use your calendar as an extension of your manual and enter dates for maintenance, filter replacements and other tasks to help you stay on top of everything. 

A house manual can give you peace of mind and taking good care of your household items, appliances and systems can help you save money. 

Talk to a Pro About Your Coverage 

Add a yearly reminder to review your homeowner’s insurance to your house manual. That way, you can make sure you have the coverage you need and you’re getting all the discounts you qualify for. Reach out to Farm Bureau for a consultation.