Now? It’s getting a serious workout! It not only contains the new house contractor details/info, timelines for current house projects, budgets, and my very long list of future project wishes, but it’s earning its frequent flier miles as it goes from the south to the west coast with me time and again.
As you can see below, it’s starting to feel the weight of the home projects resting on my shoulders…
My poor, poor binder…
And my poor shoulders and back. I had been lugging it across the country in my carry-on bag. After meeting with various contractors, printing e-mails, keeping track of invoices, taking notes, scheduling appointments, and so much more…The weight of the binder was immense. Time to weed through papers.
The trouble is that I need these papers. As I travel back and forth or communicate with contractors over the phone, I need details close at hand. Having them in my move binder insured I wouldn’t miss a detail. However, when I took a closer look in the binder, I realized there were some papers and packets that could be downsized.
For example, my pool renovation paperwork. The contractor gave me this great packet full of material options and tucked the renovation contract inside…
Now that the pool materials have been chosen, I don’t really need the material booklets. So I removed both of them…
And kept the pool contract in the binder…
Same with a few other sections. like the pool fence booklet. I chose a fence on my last trip to the house, so I pulled it out and kept the contract/quote in my binder….
Same with the roof info. When I met with the roofer last week, I Β chose a roof color (it’s the moire black option on the bottom left). So I pulled out the material booklet and kept the one sheet contract in the binder…
Continuing on. Paint has been chosen as well, so these little paint chips were removed…(The image behind the paint chips? one of many kitchen inspiration photos I’m coveting)…
And finally this big, bulky stack from my elfa closet order was removed…
Although these items were removed from the binder, I still need access to them. Container store to the rescue! last week after designing those 4 elfa closets, i roamed around and discovered these pretty file folders and zippered, flexible file pockets…
Something about gray and blue tones – very calming to me. I’ll take all the “calming” I can get these days…
These pockets are only $2.99!…
And are the perfect size to accommodate file folders…With room to grow!…
I love the possibilities. You can think well beyond file folder organization with this beauties…
As if the folders weren’t pretty enough, I added some washi tape and a label. I love pretty things, what can i say?…
Materials and booklets organized. And pretty.
Then I just popped the stack into the file pocket…
my shoulders are thanking me.
and have a look at this…
My binder is hugging me today. Hard to believe it was carrying everything you see inside that file pocket…
Since I’ll be meeting with loads more contractors this week, I grabbed a second file pocket. When I return to the south this weekend, there’s no chance my carry-on will be loaded down with additional weight. I’ll put the papers in the 2nd pocket and stow it away in my luggage.
Out of topic but would like to ask how you blur out the sensitive information on the picture.
thanks.
/jonie
i use the iphoto program on my computer. there is the option to "retouch" areas of the image to blur out what i need to blur. that is what i use to do that! π
I love zippered file pockets. I got one at Staples a few years back and use it when tax time starts rolling around to keep all the documents I receive in the mail in one place. Good solution for the move too! π
What do you mean paint has been chosen as well? You can't say something like that without a big reveal! Patience is not a virtue of mine. π
you're funny – i'll be sharing these colors soon! i'm really happy with all the colors for the house – there is a lot of them!
When we bought our current house the previous owners (who had built the house) left us a binder just like this. It was SOOOO helpful. π
Wow! Love this organizer! I would never have thought to do it like this. . .thanks for the idea!:)
I saw this on Pinterest and I love this idea, but I cannot find those zippered pouches anywhere! Where did you get yours?
I found them at the Container Store.
xo,
Sam
I. just saw this hint, and I love it. I've been using these mesh bags to keep cross stitch projects together for use, or for travel. I'm going to pilfer one to use for bill paying. I tend to stack things up, and have to flip through them at bill paying time. To Be Paid in the front, folders behind. I usually take my bills in to work one day a week, and this will make that