When planning for a move, you may not think about all of the paperwork involved. In addition to your physical tasks and any closing paperwork you need to secure your new home, change of address can sometimes get lost in the shuffle.
Below, we provide five guidelines to get you through the process of changing your address.
1. Verify Your New Address
Before you change your address, you should probably know your new address. If possible, cross-reference your home’s address with official paperwork. This is particularly important if you are moving to a region with which you are unfamiliar. Leaving off a directional marker or your apartment number may cause some mix-ups with your mail.
2. Compile a List of Organizations to Inform
Once you know your new address, provide an accurate change of address to each of the organizations you deal with, starting with the Postal Service. It’s also helpful to include the following organizations:
- Bank, creditors, and credit card companies
- Clubs, associations
- Church congregation
- Employer
- Doctor and dentist offices
- Mailing and magazine subscriptions
- Relevant government agencies
Instead of posting your address publicly, encourage your friends and family to speak to you directly to get your change of address.
3. Keep Your Family in the Loop
As you work through the process of changing your address, remember to include all members of your family. For example, most government offices ask you to list your spouse’s name and the names of any children moving with you.
Once you arrive at your new home, go over which organizations have received a change of address for you in case you missed some. Within 30 days of your arrival, remember to update your state ID card or driver’s license to reflect your correct current address.
4. Update Address Labels and Tags
Before you begin your physical move, update all your address labels and tags. These items may include any of the following:
- “If found” tags
- Luggage ID tags
- Pet microchips and ID tags
- Return address stamps
It is particularly important to use an up-to-date address on anything you’ll carry with you while in transit, as well.
5. Make Use of Mail Forwarding Services
The United States Postal Service provides a mail forwarding service which can help re-direct mail from any organizations you forgot. The Postal Service will forward to your new address for a full 12 months after your change of address is finalized.
If you have questions about the policies for a specific organization, reach out to a representative of that organization. To avoid moving fraud, you may need to provide identification when changing your address with government bodies such as the Postal Service, IRS, and DMV/Secretary of State office.
Luckily, many civilian organizations offer the option of changing your address online, in person, over the phone, or via traditional mail at your convenience.
Wheaton Worldwide has partnered with Updater to save you time and stress! Updater is a web app that helps to supplement the moving process. From quickly finding utilities providers in your area or updating your address, Updater will save you hours during your move. To learn more about Updater, ask your Wheaton representative.
