The Change of Address Checklist!

Who You Need To Notify About Address Changes – And Why

Moving from your old home into your new one can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life – but it can also be one of the most stressful! There are so many tiny details that you need to pay attention to because if you don’t, you could end up spending more time on problem-solving than on enjoying your new house, apartment, or space. Everyone agrees that one of the most tedious tasks when it comes to moving is changing your mailing address.

There’s already a lengthy track of annoying hurdles ahead of you when you move, so why does changing your address have to be such a pain too? It actually doesn’t. Yes, you might end up having to submit a few forms or send a few emails, but there’s no need to worry about the details because we’ve got our tenants covered with a few helpful tips.

Here’s a checklist of the most important details to remember when you’re changing your address.

Utility Companies

This should be anyone’s first step when it comes to changing your address. No one wants to pay bills, and everyone hates getting them in the mail, but you could have serious issues if you don’t notify your Gas, Electricity, ISP, waste, water, or other utility providers about your move. If you’re one of the few people who still use a landline, you need to communicate that you’re moving well ahead of time so you can get coverage in your new space as soon as possible.

The unfortunate truth is that you can no longer trust your previous home’s current tenant to forward your mail. Not everyone has the time, or even the inclination, to fix something you should have thought about already. Do yourself a favor, log in to your respective accounts and apps, and let them know that you’ll be making a change.

The Postal Service / USPS

If anyone’s going to be forwarding mail to your new home, it’s the postal service! You should already be notifying USPS about your address change so you can access cool features like this one, Informed Delivery, which sends you a daily preview of your mail. For your convenience, the USPS does have a system in place for anyone who moves house but hasn’t let everyone know yet. They make it very easy for you by having everything online, so you can sign up for multiple forms of mail forwarding right here on the USPS website.

Changing your address on their websites takes a matter of minutes or you can do it the old-fashioned way and fill out a change of address form at your local post office. By giving them your new address you’re giving them your forwarding address, solving a big problem before it even started.

Tax and Financial Agencies

The payroll companies that send your tax documents and the agencies that process them – both need to be told about your move as soon as possible. Your taxes are processed at both the state and federal levels, meaning even the smallest of discrepancies on your documents could lead to difficult and complex issues you don’t want to deal with. Avoid dealing with unnecessary paperwork by filling out the necessary paperwork to let the IRS know about your move.

If you also utilize payroll companies or a loan agency, you also want to notify them about your move before you even make it. You don’t want to end up falling behind on a payment you didn’t even know about!

The Social Security Administration

Many people throughout the United States benefit from the Social Security program. Depending on how long you’ve worked, you may receive benefits that significantly impact your day-to-day life. It should come as no surprise then that your SSA account needs to be updated with your current address for those benefits to stay current. Thanks to almost all government functions now being available through the internet, changing your address is as easy as clicking a few buttons. Just log in to your SSA account to “Update Your Address”.

If you don’t use the internet to access your social security benefits, simply call your local SSA office or use the agency’s hotline.

The Department of Motor Vehicles

Many people are now resorting to alternative forms of travel and transportation so that our society no longer has to rely on cars. Still, whether you have a simple ID or a driver’s License, you need to contact the DMV when moving. You might be moving to a new state across the country, or you might just be moving to a new county closer to the beach. Either way, the DMV needs to be near the top of your list when it comes to address changing. You won’t receive important car registration documents or tags unless you update your mailing address.

The regulations are so strict that the DMV requires you to notify them about an address change within 10 days of your move. Don’t delay, submit your address change so you can get an updated ID or driver’s license.

Insurance Companies

Whether you rent or own your home, chances are you’re smart enough to have it insured. Accidents happen, and no one wants to be on the end of an expensive repair bill that could have been covered by basic insurance coverage. That’s why it’s incredibly important for you to transfer your Home Insurance or Renter’s Insurance to your new property before you even move.

Movers, whether amateurs like your friends or hired professionals, can make mistakes. That’s why your plan needs to be active for your old home when you move out and for your new home when you move in. If anyone causes any damage to either property, you’ll be covered.

Banks and Credit Card Companies

It’s never been more crucial to keep your data protected. Countless people and organizations are trying to get ahold of your private information, from your credit card numbers to your passwords. Not everyone has moved to paperless billing or bank information, so there’s a good chance that you’re still receiving financial information or offers from your bank or your credit card company. Normally, all of that excess mail gets ripped apart and thrown in the trash, but you can’t expect a stranger to do that for you when you move.

When you don’t notify your credit card company or bank about your move, you leave yourself and your loved ones susceptible to people who might be more than happy to use that information for themselves.

Subscription Companies

In this day and age, you’re more likely to have a subscription to a monthly coffee bean service than you are to a major magazine. Printed media is not what it used to be, but no matter what subscription service you use you’re going to want to give them a heads-up about your move. You could end up losing money on a unique package or edition that you’ve been looking forward to when all you had to do was send in a change of address letter or a quick email.

Friends and Family

Last, but certainly not least, make sure to give your friends and family a notification about your move. Life is in constant motion, so you never know when to expect a letter about an unfortunate happening or an invitation to someone’s life-changing event. Keeping those who are closest to you informed about your new address isn’t just a smart move, it avoids any rude mishaps on your point. You won’t miss the invitation to your nephew’s wedding, or your friend’s engagement party, if they have your new address.
Find the appropriate forms, fill out those online change boxes, and make sure you don’t miss your next important letter.

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