Every house has a few facts that only one person knows: where the water shutoff is, which breaker runs the kitchen, what size furnace filter to buy, when the water heater was last flushed. When that person is away, busy or moving out, the rest of the household is left guessing. A house manual, sometimes called a home binder, puts those facts in one place. This guide covers what to include, how to build one in an afternoon and how to keep it current.
Who a house manual is for
- Your household: anyone who might need to find a shutoff or call a plumber at 2 a.m.
- House sitters, guests and renters: Wi-Fi, trash day, quirks and who to call
- Service pros: model numbers and repair history speed up every service call
- The next owner: a documented maintenance history is a good thing to hand over at closing
What to put in a house manual
1. Shutoffs and emergencies
- Main water shutoff, and the shutoff valves for each toilet, sink and the water heater
- Gas meter location and who to call. If you ever smell gas, leave the house first and call your gas utility or 911 from outside.
- Main electrical panel location and how to reset a tripped breaker
- What to do in the first five minutes of a leak, power outage or no-heat night
- Utility account names and outage phone numbers (no passwords or full account numbers)
2. Breaker panel map
Breaker labels are often missing or wrong. Flip each breaker with a helper and write down what goes dark. A correct map saves real time during an outage or a repair.
3. Major systems and appliances
| Item | Write down |
|---|---|
| Furnace, heat pump, AC | Brand, model, install date, filter size, service company |
| Water heater | Type, capacity, install date, last flush |
| Roof, windows, siding | Install or replacement year, contractor, warranty |
| Appliances | Model and serial number, purchase date, warranty end date |
| Sump pump, water softener, septic | Location, last service, who services it |
4. Paint colors, filter sizes and finishes
Record the paint brand, color name and sheen for each room, along with filter sizes, light bulb types and flooring or tile names. Touch-ups and reorders then take minutes instead of a trip with a paint chip.
5. A seasonal maintenance plan
- Monthly: test smoke and CO alarms, check for leaks under sinks, look at the HVAC filter
- Spring: clean gutters, check the roof and grading after winter, service the AC
- Summer: check the caulk and weatherstripping, clean the dryer vent
- Fall: service the furnace, drain outdoor faucets where it freezes, clean gutters again
- Winter: watch for ice dams and frozen pipes, keep the vents clear of snow
The right schedule depends on your climate and your equipment. Your manufacturer manuals and local pros are the best guide.
6. Repair log and trusted pros
Keep a running list of what was fixed, when, by whom and what it cost. Add the plumber, electrician, HVAC company and handyman you trust. This history helps on the next service call and when you sell.
7. Home inventory
Walk through each room with your phone and record a video, opening closets and drawers. Note big-ticket items with model numbers and keep receipts for major purchases. Store a copy outside the house, such as in protected cloud storage, so it survives a fire or flood. Ask your insurance agent what documentation they want.
8. A one-page house guide to share
One page for sitters and guests: Wi-Fi network, trash and recycling days, how the thermostat works, house rules, and an "if this happens, do this" list with who to call.
9. Moving checklists
The first 30 days in a new home (change the locks, find every shutoff, test alarms, map the breakers) and a moving-out list (transfer utilities, leave the manual for the next owner).
How to build one in an afternoon
- Walk the house with a notebook or your phone and find every shutoff, the panel and the main systems
- Photograph the label on each appliance and system for model and serial numbers
- Map the breaker panel with a helper
- Write the one-page house guide
- Put it all in a binder or a folder, and tell everyone in the house where it is
Review it once a year and after any repair, replacement or move.
Build your own home binder
You can build all of this with a notebook or a binder with tabs, and it makes a practical housewarming or closing gift. For the medical part of being prepared, get the free ER-Ready Kit: the one-page Emergency Health Summary, the "Where should I go?" guide and interpreter wallet cards, in English and Spanish. For the rest of your family's important papers, see our important documents checklist.
The Ambos Health team
General information, not safety, legal or insurance advice. If you smell gas or see fire or electrical danger, leave the house and call 911 or your utility.