Moving is stressful. As if buying and selling a home and packing boxes weren’t enough, you have all those little details to worry about. You’ve got to make sure your electricity, gas, cable, phone, and other services are transferred on the right day and ready to use. You also need to notify people of your new address — and it seems like someone or something is always forgotten.

What Are You Forgetting?

To help you stay organized during this hectic time, here is a list of suggested agencies to notify of your change of address, so you can keep life moving forward in your new home.

• The Post Office — This one is important because they can forward your mail for 1 year after you move. They won’t catch everything though, so it’s important to let everyone else know, too.
• Your Bank — Make sure important mail gets into your hands and nobody else’s. You may also want to have new checks printed with your new address.
• Credit Card Companies — Again, make sure statements and other correspondence doesn’t keep going to your old home.
• Schools — If you or your kids are in school, make sure they know where you’re moving to.
• Family and Friends — You wouldn’t want to miss out on Christmas or birthday cards, now would you?
• Utility Companies — Make sure they continue your service at your new address. Depending on how far you are moving, you may have different utility companies in your new home.
• Church Organizations — Some churches will automatically transfer your records to your new location.
• Driver License Agency — If you don’t have your current address associated with your driver’s license, you could find an unfortunate domino effect when using it for identification under other circumstances (applying for some types of government-issued permits, for example).
• Your Current and Previous Employer — Your company will send tax forms and may send benefits information and more. They’ll need your current address. If you worked anywhere else in the last two years, let your previous employer know as well so they can send your W-2’s to the right address.
• Doctors and Dentists — You know those handy reminder cards? Much better if you actually receive them.
• Insurance Companies — Auto insurance, health insurance, and obviously homeowner’s insurance.
• Magazine Subscriptions — If you want to keep getting your Better Homes & Gardens, make sure they’ve got your current address.
• Your Alma-Mater — If you’re interested in class gatherings, make sure your Alma mater or reunion planners have your current address on file.

As you know, moving to a new home is crazy and stressful enough without missing out on important mail once you’re settled. Take an afternoon and submit all these address change notifications. Most of them can probably be done online. Good luck and let us know if we missed anything!

Consider reviewing the Stress Free Moving Checklist from E.E. Ward for other items to need on your list to make moving stress free.