There are a million and one things to think about when making a move. Amongst the sorting and packing, letting people know you’re moving is a vital part of the process. It may seem like a simple online form filed with the post office is all that’s needed, but there’s actually a host of places, people, and companies that should be alerted to your impending change of address.
Below are some useful tips and a helpful checklist to make sure that your transition goes as smoothly as possibly and that those paper bills, magazines, birthday cards, and other mail keep coming like clockwork.
Tip 1 – Leverage the Internet
Many of the places and people that need to be informed about a new address can be notified online. As noted above, a good place to start is with the online change of address form with the United States Postal Office. Please note that a valid email address and credit card are required to complete the form online. Otherwise, you will have to print the form and then mail or deliver it to your local post office.
Naturally, you will also want to let your relatives and close friends know about your move. However, there’s no need to buy expensive “change of address” cards along with stamps. With almost everyone nowadays having access to the Internet, you can send an email or choose from a wide variety of “change of address” e-cards online.
Tip 2 – Do Not Shut Off Your Utilities
If you are selling your home, do not turn off your utilities as that may cause problems during the final walk-through, which typically occurs a day before settlement. Only telephone and cable TV service should be disconnected. Instead, both the buyer and the seller should notify the utility companies of the change in ownership approximately a week, but typically no later than 48 hours, before settlement. If both sets of calls have been made, the transfer of utilities will occur on the day of settlement without a disruption in service.
Tip 3 – Don’t Forget About Your Web-based Subscriptions
Although these are less important in the grand scheme of things, you may wish to change the zip code or city you’ve programmed into web-based services you subscribe to such as weather reports, local news reports, and coupon services like Groupon and Living Social. These types of sites can also help you get more quickly acclimated to your new city or neighborhood.
Without further ado, here is a checklist of the people and institutions you may need to contact about your change of address:
Personal Contacts
- Family
- Friends
Utilities/Phone/Home Services
- Electric
- Gas/Oil
- Water
- Garbage/Sewer
- Cable/Internet
- Home/Cell Phone
- Alarm/Security
- Lawn Maintenance
Federal/State/Local Government
- Post Office
- IRS
- Social Security
- Motor Vehicle Administration
- Voter Registration
Insurance
- Home
- Car
- Health
- Life
Medical Providers
- Primary doctor and specialists
- Dentist
- Optometrist
- Pharmacy
Financial
- Credit Card
- Bank
- Accountant
- Financial Advisor
- Attorney
- 401k/Retirement Funds
Work/Education
- Employer
- Alumni Organizations
- Professional Associations
Subscription Services/Rewards Programs
- Newspapers/Magazines
- Frequent Flyer/Hotel Reward Programs
- AAA and Other Memberships
- Coupon Services (i.e. Groupon/Living Social)
Clubs/Community Organizations
- Gym or Sports Club
- Religious Organizations
- Volunteer/Charitable Organizations
Children Specific
- School
- Doctors
- Babysitter
Pet
- Veterinarian
- Kennel
To make this process less overwhelming you may want to tackle one category a day until you have notified everyone who needs to be alerted about your new address.
For more tips on transitioning to a new home, download our FREE Market Ready Guide, which provide strategic advice and insights on everything from choosing a Realtor to selling your home for top dollar to getting you to the settlement table, with as little stress and hassle as possible! Contact the Eric Stewart Group with any questions. With over 28 years of experience and 2,500 transactions under our belt, we are the experts on buying…selling…and everything in between!
