Moving Change of Address Checklist
Changing addresses is one of the most crucial tasks to complete before relocating.
Who are the most important people and organizations to notify when moving? An excellent question, right? When you move, it is essential to understand who should know you’re changing your address.
A change of address checklist is necessary not to forget who should know about your new location.
Moving is a process that takes a lot of time and energy. There are many things to do, especially once the moving boxes are packed and you head to your new home.
One task that many people tend to put off is notifying everyone about the move, but it is a job that is a necessity if you want everything to go smoothly.
Knowing who should have your new mailing address can usually be done leading up to the move before everything gets hectic.
Taking care of all your notifications now, before you are hauling boxes up the stairs, will pave the way for a successful transition and knock one thing off that long-moving checklist.
Knowing who should be on your checklist of address changes when moving is something many people forget about until they realize it has become a problem.
Here is a guide for who to inform of your move summarized. You’ll also see an in-depth review of how to contact each entity.
Summary of Who Should Know About Address Changes
- Employment
- Friends and family
- The post office
- Landlord
- IRS
- Credit card companies
- All insurance providers
- Veterinarian
- Government providers
- Townhall
- Financial institutions
- Department of Motor Vehicles
- Utilities
- Your phone carrier
- Magazine subscriptions
- Medical providers
- Schools
- Charitable organizations
- Religious organizations
- Sports clubs/Gyms
Why Create A Checklist For Changing Addresses
The most vital reason for having a checklist for changing your address is to remember who should be notified you’re moving. Even those with superior memories are likely to remember every person or group of people who should be told.
What Happens When Those On Your Change of Address Checklist Are Not Notified?
When you do not have your mail appropriately forwarded and then do not reach out to those who should be notified, your mail will go elsewhere. This can cause significant problems, especially when a crucial bill needs to get paid or an important document you’re waiting on.
Print this article and keep it handy so you don’t run into problems.
Keep All Contact Information Handy For Your Change of Address Checklist
Read on to remind all the parties that need to be informed about the move to your new place. This address checklist ensures you are getting everyone up to speed on where you’re headed.
Be sure that when packing for your move, you don’t inadvertently put away all your essential contact information to reach these parties!
Let’s dig into the change of address checklist that should make your move go much more smoothly.
Your Current Employer
Your boss is one of the most vital parties to notify when changing addresses.
Your company will want an accurate address on file for you, so make sure and tell the organization you work for about your move. Giving enough notice is essential if you leave the employer for another job.
Two weeks is the minimum most employers expect, but a month or more may be more appropriate if you are in a professional position.
If you are making a transfer and staying with your current company, you will still need to notify them when you are moving and check to verify that your address has changed.
Friends and Family
Chances are your close friends and relatives are aware of your upcoming move and may have even suggested some of their best moving tips, but sending out a group email or text giving your new address can still be helpful so they can update your contact info.
Sometimes people forget to tell extended family and friends about a move. If you want anyone to be able to get in touch with you – or surprise you with gifts in the mail, letting them know about your new address would be a good idea.
Family members are essential to your address change checklist because they can help you spread the word.
USPS – The United States Postal Service
When considering who to notify when moving, the local post office is one of the most important! You could create real problems for yourself if you miss vital pieces of mail.
The U.S. Postal Service makes it easy to change your address online, or you can go into a post office and fill out a change of address form. Following their step-by-step guide to changing your address is straightforward.
When you notify the USPS, it will start forwarding your mail to the new address on the date you request. You can fill out the form ahead of your move and list whatever forwarding time you like. Keep in mind that there is a small fee for requesting forwarding online.
Make your change of address request as soon as you have the address of your new residence. If you don’t have a new house yet, it may be necessary to have a temporary change of address form completed.
Once you have your full-time address, a permanent change of address form can be completed.
Your Current Landlord if Renting
You want to make sure that you notify your landlord of your move-in adherence to the terms of your lease. Most owners ask for 30 days’ notice and penalize you for moving before your contract ends.
You’ll want to give the landlord the proper notification so you’ll get excellent tenant reviews if moving to a new apartment. Make sure the renter’s insurance provider is notified as well.
The IRS
For obvious reasons, the IRS is a necessary party to notify when you are moving. Can you imagine if you were audited or sent a vital tax document and never received it? Not communicating with the IRS would almost certainly cause undue stress.
You can fill out an IRS change of address form and send it in to update your information with the tax organization. By updating, you make it easy for the IRS to send you any relevant documents.
Remember that you’ll need to do this for the state tax agency and the federal. Getting tax forms with your current address will be necessary. Correct tax information is crucial.
Credit Card Companies
Using your credit card often requires inputting your current billing address. Unless you want to remember your old address when you use a card, you should update your address with each card company.
Updating your address will also ensure your credit card statements come to you each month, which is crucial if you do not use paperless billing.
Not missing any credit card providers will be necessary to avoid late payments. A credit card company is unlikely to have sympathy for your missed payments.
Car Insurance Provider
Your car insurance company bases your rates on the area you live in and how you store your vehicle, among other factors. If you need to file a claim, update your address with the insurer to ensure you don’t run into any problems.
Home, Health, and Life Insurance Providers
Home, health, and life insurance companies are also crucial parties to notify when you move so that appropriate documentation can reach you quickly.
When moving, you may want to go with local providers. Make sure you check out how to save money on insurance by bundling service providers. Your Homeowner’s insurance is a crucial part of any change of address moving checklist.
Of course, your health insurance is also key to getting squared away.
Your Pets Veterinarian and Kennel
If you have a pet, you must notify your veterinarian and kennel. Remember, your new health provider will need your pet’s health history. This is one of the things discussed in how to move with pets. Use these thirteen tips for moving with pets to make your life less stressful.
Government Agencies
Suppose you regularly interact with any other government agencies, like the Social Security Administration. In that case, you will want to notify them of your new address to avoid any potential problems with payments and documents. Missing your social security benefits check would not be a pleasant experience.
Getting your new social security card will also be necessary. You will also want to update your voter registration if needed.
Local Town Hall For Electoral Roll
One of the essential tasks, when you get settled into your new home will be visiting the local town hall and getting your name on the electoral roll. There may be an online form you can use, but if not, you’ll have to go in person for changing addresses.
You’ll want to ensure the city or town places you in the right voting district.
Bank or Credit Union
Your bank account will need to be updated with your new home address. Any lenders you’re doing business with should be notified about your address change.
Update your location to make sure your banking documents come to you directly. Don’t forget that the bank will need to update your new address with any debit cards. To avoid any potential identity theft issues, make sure to visit the bank in person.
Your information in the wrong hands could be financially devastating.
Other Financial Institutions
Besides notifying your local bank, don’t forget to inform any other financial services where you may have a stock portfolio, pension plans, bonds, and mutual funds such as Charles Schwab or Fidelity. Not only will you want to be getting your monthly statements but even more critical will be receiving any tax statements.
Make any financial entity a top notification priority when moving.
The DMV
Address updates for the department of motor vehicles are essential to take care of quickly. You will want to prioritize getting your driver’s license and vehicle registration squared away.
The DMV will want to know about your address change, even if you are not moving to a new state. It may give you a new government id with an updated home address.
If you move out of state, you must register your vehicle. Here is a list of departments of motor vehicles in every state.
Utilities/Phone/Internet
If you are moving to an address serviced by the same utility company at your previous address, you should be able to transfer service.
Even if you are not using the same provider, you will want to notify utility providers about your move so you don’t pay for services you aren’t using after your move.
See how you can notify two of the most prominent phone/internet providers below.
If you are still using a home phone, advise the phone company you’re changing addresses.
Your Mobile Phone Carrier
If you have a mobile phone, an important step will be letting the provider know about your new address.
Magazine Subscriptions
Some essential organizations to let know you will be changing your address are the publications you subscribe to.
If you subscribe to any magazines, newspapers, or other publications, you will surely want to inform them about your move.
While notifying the post office of your relocation should help receive your subscription services, it is always wise to inform the vendors directly.
You can avoid service lapses when this is taken care of quickly.
Medical Care Providers
Updating your location with any medical providers, like doctors, dentists, and optometrists is also a good idea. You can ensure that any bills or other correspondence come to your new home by updating your information.
Schools
If you are going to school or you have children in school, make sure to notify them. Make sure to include local schools and colleges if you have children attending them.
When you have student loans, it will also be essential to inform them of your current location.
Update Google Maps and Mapquest
Updating your correct address will be vital if you run a business out of your home. Your current location will be necessary for your clients to find you. The first place most folks start their search looking for a business is online.
The good news is it’s straightforward to make an address change online when you move to a new area. You should consider making this change just in advance of your move. Any other online services to promote your business should also be notified.
Be sure your address information, including the zip code, is appropriately updated. Your phone number is also critical to show up correctly in Google searches. A part of the ranking factors is what’s known as your NAP – name, address, and phone number.
Other Miscellaneous People/Groups That Can Be on Your Checklist of Address Changes
- Religious organizations such as a church or synagogues.
- Gym or sports club.
- Voter registration.
- Charitable organizations or memberships.
- Reward programs like frequent flier miles or hotel bonuses.
- Car breakdown services such as Triple AAA should be on your list.
How to Let People Know You Are Moving
One of the best ways to let people know you are moving is through social media channels.
If you are an avid user of Facebook and Linkedin, these are all great places where you can send out a message to friends and followers, letting them know of your impending move.
A quick message giving them your new address will undoubtedly be helpful to those who will need it.
Another fantastic service is Updater, which will help notify people of your move. Updater is an excellent app for property managers, real estate agents, and moving companies.
From the founder and CEO David Greenberg about Updater, “After my last move, I knew there had to be a better way to manage the process.
It was insane – the time I spent contacting the utility companies, updating my contacts, and so on. I looked for a solution online, and when I saw none existed, I knew there was a huge opportunity to build it from the ground up.”
Some people also like to do it the old fashion way of sending change of address cards.
Final Thoughts on Who to Let Know You’re Moving
When moving out of state, who to notify is probably even more critical as you will be separating yourself by a greater distance.
Many of these things mentioned in the list will become even more critical as you settle into your new environment.
By informing everyone before you move, there will be one less thing to do during the moving process. Be sure when organizing your stuff for storage you know precisely where to find all the contact information for those you need to reach.
Hopefully, changing your address will be easier and this checklist has been helpful!
Other Helpful Moving Articles
- Relocation tips for a smoother move – see some excellent tips on how to relocate smoothly. Moving can be one of the most stressful events in your life. The advice found here will make the process go far more smoothly.
- Problems to avoid with a moving company – learn some of the most common issues with moving companies so you can avoid falling into the trap.
- Reviews of the top moving companies in the US – Consumer Affairs has an exceptional resource for choosing an outstanding moving company. Use their guidance to make the best selection possible.
- How to choose a storage unit – when moving, many folks need to pick a storage company. See some helpful guidance on choosing a storage company that will fulfill your needs.
Use the additional resources to make your upcoming move a smooth one!
About the author: Bill Gassett, a nationally recognized leader in his field, provided the above Real Estate information on Changing Addresses: Change of Address Checklist When Moving. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-625-0191. Bill has helped people move in and out of many Metrowest towns for the last 35+ years.
Are you thinking of selling your home? I am passionate about real estate and would love to share my marketing expertise!
I service Real Estate Sales in the following Metrowest MA towns: Ashland, Bellingham, Douglas, Framingham, Franklin, Grafton, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hopedale, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Natick, Northborough, Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Sutton, Wayland, Westborough, Whitinsville, Worcester, Upton, and Uxbridge MA.