You have moved into your new home, now what? Changing your address is a bother, but it is a necessary step to fully arriving in your new home. Use this checklist to make sure that you contact everyone about your new home.
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Priority Items:
Contact the following organizations about your new address immediately after moving:
- U.S. Postal Service
- This should be the first thing on your list. Changing your address with the local post office will help make sure that you get all of your mail during and after the move. Forward your mail to the new address on a certain date to make sure nothing is missed. You can even do this before your move to make things easier.
- Electric Company
- Call the electric provider to the new home and put the account under your name. Make sure that the start date is your official move-in date.
- Gas Company
- If your home is equipped with a natural gas connection or propane service, make sure that they know when you moved in as well.
- Water & Sewer Department
- Most homes are connected to a municipal water supplier through the local government. While the city may be notified of the real estate sale, double check with the water department to get the account in your name.
- Garbage Service
- Contact the local garbage service provider to change the account into your name. Ask about different pick-up and recycling options as well.
- Internet Company
- Most new homeowners rely heavily on internet access. Consider asking the past owner who they used as the internet provider. Changing providers now is a good idea, but many new installations may take a while.
- Phone Service
- Not many homes have landlines anymore, but you will need to contact a provider to double check your home’s account. You can close the account if you don’t want landline access, or change the account into your name and possibly get a different phone number. Update cell phone providers as well with your new address.
- Place of Employment
- Let work know about your address change to update your employee profile as well as any insurance changes that you may have through work.
- Government Offices
- Update any government office you work with regularly, like social security, family support, pension benefits, or veterans affairs.
- Schools
- Moving into a new house often includes a new school district if you have children. Make sure that your child’s school has your correct address and contact information.
Within the First Month:
Forwarding your mail through the postal service will help in buying some time to change your address on the following accounts.
- Driver’s License & Vehicle Registration
- Stop by your local driver’s license office for an updated address change to your license and vehicle registration. You may need a new picture, so make sure you are prepared! Every state has different deadlines, so make sure to check with your local DMV ASAP.
- Insurance Providers
- Make sure to change your address with any insurance that you have so that you are covered! Homeowner’s insurance is usually part of a home buying process, but double check. Car insurance, medical insurance, and life insurance should also be updated.
- Bank Accounts
- Contact your banking institution to update your account information, even if you don’t get mailed statements anymore. Change any addresses associated with debit cards as well.
- Credit Cards
- Missing a credit card payment could hurt your credit and your wallet! Make sure that credit card companies know your new address.
- Other Financial Institutions
- Make sure to change your address on any loans, retirement, or stock accounts you have with other financial institutions. Don’t forget financial services you use to transfer money like PayPal, Venmo, etc.
- Medical Providers
- Your doctor, dentist, and other medical providers should have your updated address to send important information and bills to your new address.
- Monthly Subscriptions
- While most monthly subscriptions are online or paid for electronically, make sure that you update your address with them. Monthly subscriptions that include a mailed package to your home, like a subscription box, should be updated so that you receive your items.
Within the First 6 Months:
Change your address on these items that are a bit more forgiving when it comes to updating personal information:
- Update Your Will
- Now is a great time to look over your will and correct any outdated items like your address and dependents. If you don’t have a will, now is a great time to write one to cover your family in the future.
- Contact the IRS
- You’ll want your tax return information, and any other important documents or stimulus checks, sent to the correct address. Contact the IRS onlines for easy address changes.
- Annual Subscriptions
- Any annual subscriptions like Amazon Prime, newspapers, magazines, or co-op memberships should be updated.
- Apps that Use Location
- Many apps on your smartphone use your current location. Make sure to update any map, transportation, and food delivery apps are all updated so that you don’t get lost, send a driver to your old address, or miss out on your lunch grub!
- Family & Friends
- Send your new address to everyone that visits your house on a regular basis, as well as family and friends on your Christmas card list.
- Order New Checks
- If you still use checks for payment, order new checks that show your new address.
- Pet I.D. Tags
- Don’t forget about Fido! Update the address or phone number on your pet’s identification tag or microchip account just in case they ever get lost.
- Stationery & Business Cards
- Update any personalized stationery, address stamps, or business cards used with your home address.