Changing addresses? A checklist to keep you organized.

When you are getting ready to move, one of the most important things you can do beside choosing a local moving company is make a checklist of everyone you will need to notify.  You likely have more people to inform than you have imagined and you don’t want to overlook anyone or risk having sensitive or confidential mail delivered to your old address. Deciding where to start may seem overwhelming at first, but you can begin to tackle the list early on in your moving process.

Listed below are many types of contacts you will need to inform of your move.  All you need to do is fill in the blanks:

• US Postal Service – The Post Office makes it very easy to get your mail sent to your new address on the date of your move.  You can even submit your change of address online at www.usps.com  Doing this will take care of the bulk of your general mail.
• Government agencies – You will want to get the address changed on your driver’s license before or shortly after you move to the new address.  In Minnesota, you can also update your voter registration to the new address by checking the appropriate information on your address change form.
• Your employer – Your company will need correct address information to send out year- end tax documents and benefit statements.
• Banks and Credit Card Companies – It is important that you let the bank know you moved for several reasons.  Many debit card transactions require a zip code to be approved. Having the right one associated with your card will simplify things for you at the check-out counter. Also, if the bank needs to send you new cards and PIN numbers, you won’t want them delivered to your old address.
• Insurance companies I- Your life, auto, health and homeowner’s/renters insurance companies will need your new address in order to correspond with you. Sometimes moving to a new address can change your insurance rates, too. So talk to your agent to see if you need to update anything within your policies.
• Doctors and Dentist offices – It is helpful to inform your health providers of your move.  You may also need to request that immunization records be sent to your child’s new school.
• Utility companies – You will want to contact your gas, electric, water, and trash companies.  If you are moving locally, you can likely take care of closing the old and opening the new accounts in one call.  The company can transfer the utilities on the day of your move so you aren’t stuck paying for someone else’s power or water usage.
• Internet, cable, and phone providers – This one may be a bit more time consuming. If you will be having internet, cable, or phone in your new home, besides calling to change the address, you will also need to move the service.  Most often, you will need to set up an appointment to have a technician visit the new home to install services correctly. And of course with these services there may be installation charges, so be sure to include that in your move budget. If having service soon after you move is important to you, call these companies a few weeks in advance of your move so the installation appointments can occur shortly after your move.
• Family and Friends – Chances are good you will receive harried calls and emails from relatives and friends who need your address so they can send out Christmas cards.  Do them a favor and notify them when you move.  They’ll appreciate it.  And hey, they might even offer to help you move!

Do you have more tips to suggest on how to change your address when moving home? If so, please feel free to share them below as a comment.

Have a cat, dog, guinea pig or fish tank?  Keep an eye out  for our next post on moving with pets.