I do like the idea of a note or date somewhere hidden. Maybe something like “First paint job, 2024” scribbled inside a closet or under a cabinet.
Totally get this—my partner and I debated the same thing while moving in. We ended up writing our move-in date behind a light switch plate, just for fun. But honestly, most of what we found during our initial reno was just drywall dust and an old spoon (no idea how it got there). Has anyone tried leaving something that’s actually useful for the next owner, like a list of paint colors or appliance manuals tucked away? Wondering if that's more helpful than a random trinket.
Leaving a list of paint colors is actually super helpful—did that in my last place and the new owners thanked me later. Manuals are hit or miss, though. I tried tucking them all in a kitchen drawer, but they just got lost in the shuffle. What worked better was taping a ziplock with all the appliance info inside a cabinet door. Not glamorous, but at least it didn’t end up behind the fridge with the dust bunnies.
I get the appeal of sticking everything in a ziplock, but honestly, over the years I've found digital backups are way less hassle. I usually scan or snap photos of all manuals, receipts, and paint codes, then drop them in a shared folder for the new owners. That way stuff doesn't get lost or trashed during move-in chaos. Not everyone loves tech, but it's saved me some headaches, especially on bigger projects where paper just disappears...
Yeah, I’m with you—paper just vanishes when you need it most. I started snapping pics of appliance stickers and receipts after losing a warranty card in a move. Digital’s just easier to search, too. Only thing I still keep hard copies of are the big-ticket warranties, just in case. But for paint codes and manuals? Phone camera all the way.
Honestly, I learned the hard way too—lost a whole file folder of renovation receipts during my last move. Now I’ve got a running album on my phone: paint swatches, serial numbers, even the odd plumbing diagram scribbled on a napkin. I get the appeal of keeping hard copies for the big stuff, but half the time I can’t even find my stapler, never mind warranty docs. At this point, my phone’s more organized than my filing cabinet ever was… and way less dusty.