Let’s be honest, when planning a move, there are approximately two billion things that you need to remember. While there can be differences in moving across the country versus across the street, one thing is for sure, your address is going to change. More times than not, the address change is an afterthought — a minor inconvenience. Instead of picking up the pieces (or parcels?) in the aftermath of your move, here’s a run down of what you need to do and when. Bonus, I’ve made a fantastic checklist for you to download (you knew I wouldn’t let you down, right?).
Getting Prepared (aka the pesky paperwork)
Before your mind explodes thinking of all the possible people/businesses that need to be contacted about your change of address, let’s take a look at exactly what information you should have on hand. While some of these may seem like a no-brainer, they can often be overlooked.
- Your New Address – Those no-brainer items I was talking about? This is one of them. Ensure you have the correct address, including house number, spelling of the street, and zip code. If you are relocating to a community or development, you may also need a unit or box number. It is also handy to know if there is a parcel collection point, such as a locker, or which items are delivered directly to your home.
- Account Numbers and Passwords – If you are transferring service (or even asking for a final bill) it is important that you are armed with your account numbers or the account access information. Having these readily available can make the process go so much quicker!
- Phone Number – While changing a phone number every time you move is a thing of the past (Hurrah!) there still may be instances where you need a local number. If, for instance, you have a new office number or workplace.
- Payment Information – When setting up new accounts you will need to have forms of payment on hand. This can include Credit or Debit Cards or Bank and Routing Numbers.
Before You Move
Now that we have the information that you will need, be sure to take a look at the mail that comes in and the bills that you pay on a monthly basis. Make a list of the items that will require you to report a new address. In many cases your service may not change, but your billing address will. Want to make things even easier? Switching to electronic billing will ensure you have less mail to sort through in general.
Next steps?
- Submit a Change of Address with USPS – This does take time, so ensure you give the proper leeway and don’t wait until the last minute. If you do, you can opt to have any mail held at the post office. That way, the new residents at your old address aren’t getting your mail.
- Contact New Providers – Give a proper amount of time to ensure you have all the essentials setup before your move. By essentials, I mean power, water, gas, etc. In some cases you may be transferring service, so ensure you have a concrete date (and the correct address) for the switch to take place.
After You Move
Yes, you are all moved in, congrats! That list that we made before the move? You’ll want to keep that handy for the aftermath. Double check your incoming mail (forwarded or not) against the list. If you see something is missing or was forwarded instead of being sent directly, ensure you get in contact with the sender to update your address. Mail forwarding is not infinite and will eventually expire, meaning you could potentially miss out on an important correspondence.
Anytime between “now” and “right now” is a good time to take action on shaping your best life, and that includes where you live. Let’s get the ball rolling on your next steps.
(702) 374-6807. Or drop me a line here.
