Selling your home can be one of life’s most exciting — and most stressful — events. If you’ve closed the deal and are ready to move, it’s crucial to share your change of address with the important people and institutions you deal with. Refer to this handy list to learn whom to communicate with and why.
The postal service. Your first priority should be to notify the post office of your move. It is as simple as going to the USPS official website and filling out a change of address request form. You can even sign up for mail forwarding, a free service that will forward mail to your new address for up to one year.
Utility companies. It is imperative to cancel all services, such as electric, gas, oil, cable, phone and internet. Taking your name off of these various accounts as soon as you close on your house will avoid any potential misunderstanding or billing mistakes.
DMV. Changing your address with the Division of Motor Vehicles is another important item for your checklist. This will ensure not only proper billing and record keeping, but it will give you a current piece of identification.
Insurance companies. You will need to cancel your homeowner’s insurance policy, and you will need to change the address on your vehicle and life policies as soon as possible to ensure there is no interruption in billing that could compromise your coverage.
Doctors. Keep your family doctors, dentists and other service providers abreast of your new address and contact information so that may always be able to reach you and so you’ll avoid any billing problems.
Banks and credit card companies. By the same token, notify your bank and credit card companies about your new address. Protect your identity by keeping your address private and ensuring that sensitive documents follow you to your new home.
Subscriptions. Change your address on newspaper and magazine subscriptions, as well as any on-line shopping sites that you frequently use, to make sure that any deliveries come to the correct address.
Friends and family. Last by certainly not least, communicate with family and friends about your new address. It will show that you care about them, and it will ensure that you will keep in touch beyond your smart phone!