Moving Tips

-April 2009-

“Is paperwork taking up too much space?”

All too often, we work with clients who are concerned about what to do with decades of paperwork.   Some very organized families have every saved every check they have ever written, stored away in a multitude of tall file cabinets. When it comes time to move, there is no question that all these papers must be disposed of.  The problem is knowing what to keep and how to safely dispose of the rest.  At A Smooth Move, our mission is to make moving a pleasant experience and we do this by taking care of all of the details, including paperwork.

Old checks, pay stubs and related bank statements should be shredded or burned.  Most banks do not even send these back, any longer. Should you need a copy of a check, they will pull the record off of their computers to help you. As soon as you reconcile your checkbook, each month, make a point to dispose of those extra papers.

While you have probably heard of the seven year rule, that really applies to your yearly income tax filings.  Any tax papers beyond seven years should be shredded.

***Please contact your accountant for the final word on what you should keep.

There are some great shredding companies that you can use, to handle this mountain of paperwork.  I can recommend Ability Learning Center and Possibilities, as places to take your shredding to.  They will have a small charge for this service and your shredding will give some special individuals a job. 

Another nice option is a service that will come to your home and handle your papers, while you watch.  For this service contact Rob Knutson at Secure Shredding.  His number is 507-282-7827. (Please schedule at least one day in advance).