Things You Need to Remember About Your House: A Complete Checklist
Paint colors. Filter sizes. Contractor contacts. Warranty dates. A checklist of everything about your house you should remember — and where to keep it.
The stuff that disappears when you need it
You don't realize how much you forget about your own house until something goes wrong. The furnace dies and you don't know what filter it takes. The repair person asks for the model number and you have no idea where to find it. You want to touch up a wall and can't remember what paint color you used.
This is the complete checklist of everything you should have saved — and don't.
Complete house information checklist
Major Appliances
- ☐ Refrigerator model number and brand
- ☐ Washer model number and brand
- ☐ Dryer model number and brand
- ☐ Dishwasher model number and brand
- ☐ Oven/range model number and brand
- ☐ Microwave model number
- ☐ Warranty expiration dates for each
Home Systems (HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical)
- ☐ Furnace model and filter size (16x25x1? 20x25x4?)
- ☐ AC unit type and age
- ☐ Water heater model and age
- ☐ Main water shut-off location
- ☐ Electrical panel location and amp rating
- ☐ Thermostat type and settings
- ☐ Last HVAC service date
- ☐ Roof age and material
Home Details & Specifications
- ☐ Paint color name and brand for each room (Alabaster SW 7008, Benjamin Moore Super White, etc.)
- ☐ Flooring type by room (hardwood type, tile, carpet brand)
- ☐ Door lock codes or spare key locations
- ☐ Fence material and height
- ☐ Light bulb types (wattage, base type)
- ☐ WiFi network and router location
- ☐ Smart home device types (Nest, Philips, etc.)
Contractors & Service People
- ☐ Plumber name and phone
- ☐ Electrician name and phone
- ☐ HVAC technician contact
- ☐ Painter contact and rates
- ☐ Roofer contact
- ☐ Septic or sewer service (if applicable)
- ☐ Appliance repair people you trust
- ☐ General contractor for renovations
- ☐ Landscaper or lawn service
- ☐ House cleaner (if you use one)
Warranties & Insurance
- ☐ Appliance warranty dates and coverage
- ☐ Home warranty expiration date
- ☐ Roof warranty or insurance info
- ☐ Homeowners insurance agent and policy
- ☐ Extended warranties (if purchased)
Family Information
- ☐ Kids' shoe sizes by brand (Nike = size 9, Adidas = size 8)
- ☐ Kids' clothing sizes
- ☐ Spouse shoe/clothing sizes
- ☐ Pet medications or health info
Vehicles
- ☐ Car VIN and model
- ☐ Insurance company and policy number
- ☐ Maintenance schedule
- ☐ Fuel type and tank capacity
Utilities & Services
- ☐ Electric account number and provider
- ☐ Gas account number and provider
- ☐ Water account number
- ☐ Internet provider and account number
- ☐ Trash pickup day
- ☐ Recycling pickup day
Why this matters more than you think
When an emergency happens: Your furnace dies in December. HVAC technician asks "What size filter does it take?" You know. You saved it. You don't have to figure it out. They can fix it faster.
When you're selling: Buyers want to know the specs of appliances staying with the house, what's under warranty, the roof age, paint colors for touch-ups. You have all of it ready.
When you need a contractor: You remember that painter who did an amazing job three years ago. You didn't lose their number. You hire them again instead of starting from scratch.
When you touch up paint: You remember the exact color name and brand. You buy the right paint. It matches perfectly instead of looking slightly off.
When something's under warranty: You know your water heater warranty expires in 3 months. If it breaks in month 2, you get it fixed free. If you didn't know, you'd find out too late.
one place for all of this
Stop hunting through emails, drawers, and old texts. [ kept ] is designed to store all this household information in one searchable place. Appliances, contractors, paint colors, warranties, family info — everything you need about your house.
save everything about your houseWhere to actually keep this information
The worst places to keep household info:
- Scattered across 5 different notebooks
- In a drawer you never open
- In old emails you can't search
- In a PDF folder on your computer with 200 files
- Memorized in your head
- On business cards from contractors that get lost
The best place: a digital app designed for this, organized by category, searchable, accessible from your phone.
When your furnace dies at 2am and you need the HVAC person's number or the model, you should be able to find it in 5 seconds on your phone. Not tomorrow morning after you dig through drawers.
FAQ
Do I really need to remember all of this?
No. You need to remember where to find it. There's a difference. You don't need to memorize your furnace filter size. You need to know it's in your app when you need it.
What's the easiest way to start?
Add the critical items first: paint colors (ask yourself what rooms you've painted and the color), appliance model numbers (look at your big appliances), and contractor names/numbers (text an old contractor to ask for their full name and number). Don't try to get everything at once.
How do I remember to update it?
Every time you hire a contractor, add them that day. Every time you paint, save the color immediately. Every time an appliance gets repaired, update the record. Make it a habit, not a project.
Should I print this out?
No. Printed documents get lost and go out of date. Keep it digital so you always have the latest info with you on your phone.