How Long to Keep Home Documents (and Which Ones Never to Toss)
Homes come with paper. Lots of it. Closing packets, warranties, receipts, tax bills, insurance policies. Most of it you can toss eventually. A few pieces you should keep for as long as you own the house and then some, because they'll save you real money when you sell.
Keep for as long as you own the home (and a few years after)
- Your Closing Disclosure. The CFPB says to keep it somewhere safe. You'll need it for taxes, refinancing and selling.
- The deed, the promissory note and the mortgage. These are the core closing documents.
- Your owner's title insurance policy, if you bought one.
- Receipts for improvements. This is the big one. A new roof, an addition, a remodeled kitchen, a new HVAC system: these add to your home's cost basis. When you sell, a higher basis can mean less taxable gain. The IRS says to keep these records as long as you own the property and then until the period of limitations runs out for the year you sell. In practice that's at least three years after you file the return that reports the sale.
Repairs versus improvements. Fixing a leak or repainting a room is a repair and doesn't add to basis. Replacing the whole roof or adding a bathroom is an improvement. Keep both kinds of receipts if you're unsure, but definitely keep the improvements.
Keep for about three years
The IRS's general rule is three years from when you filed the return. So for things that support a tax return, like your mortgage interest form, property tax receipts and any energy credit paperwork, keep them three years after filing. Longer periods apply in some situations, like six years if income was significantly underreported.
Keep while they're active
- Your current homeowners insurance policy and declarations page
- Appliance and roof warranties, until they expire
- HOA governing documents, as long as you live there
- Your most recent property tax assessment notice
Go digital
Paper or electronic both work, and the CFPB says either is fine as long as it's secure. A simple system works: keep the originals of the deed and closing papers in one folder, scan everything and file improvement receipts by year so you can find them when it's time to sell.
That pile of documents is exactly what HomeDue is built for: upload them and it pulls out every date that matters, from warranty expirations to renewal dates.
Common questions
How long should I keep home improvement receipts?
For as long as you own the home and then until the period of limitations ends for the year you sell it, typically at least three years after you file the return reporting the sale.
Do I need to keep my closing documents?
Yes. Keep your Closing Disclosure, deed, promissory note and mortgage for as long as you own the home. You will need them for taxes, refinancing and selling.
Never miss the date. HomeDue reads the documents that came with your property and reminds you 30, 7 and 1 day before every deadline. Join the waitlist or grab the free 12 month checklist.
Sources checked October 2026:
General information for Georgia property owners, not legal, tax or insurance advice. Rules change, so check the official source or a professional before you act.