What to Know About Doing a Change of Address With The USPS
Do you want to know how to change your address with the post office? When you are moving to your new home, part of the change of address process is to make sure that your mail moves with you.
The USPS or United States Postal Service won’t be able to find you unless you update your new address. We will look at some step-by-step instructions to make the address change and forward your mail with the USPS. You’ll also see who you need to notify of your upcoming move as well.
Let’s take a deep dive into the address change process.
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Change Your Address Online
- Use the official USPS change of address form online. This way, your information remains safe.
- Log in to USPS change of address
- Enter your information
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Change Your Details
Give your email, phone, and previous address.
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Pay a $1.05 Fee
This is paid on a credit card to authenticate you as the person making the transaction. It is a fraud safeguard tool used by the post office. The post office will use the address associated with your credit card to match up with either your new or old residence. The primary reason for doing this is to ensure there isn’t a fraudster making the change on your behalf.
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The Post Office Will Validate
The Address change with the USPS will send an email to validate your payment in 3-5 days.
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If You Make a Mistake
If a mistake is made changing your USPS form, you can cancel it and do another one.
If you are a senior without a computer, go to the Post Office, and they will give you a form to fill in manually. They may even do it for you.
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Give Time to Make The Changes
Make sure to make your address at least two weeks before you move to your new address. This gives the mail time to be redirected to your new home.
Redirecting the mail does not automatically cover other changes that you need to make. The following notifications should be done so that all relevant people and business entities know that you have moved from one house to another.
Who to Notify When Moving
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Government Agencies
- DMV
- IRS
- Social Security
- Voting
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Financial Institutions
- Banks
- Loans
- Credit Cards
- Accountant
- Lawyer
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Utilities
- Gas and Electricity
- Phone and Cable
- Water
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People and Animals
- Doctor
- Dentist
- Vet
- Employer
- Friends
- School
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Online Services
- Retail
- Streaming
- Payments
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Clubs and Memberships
- Golf
- Gym
- Magazine subscriptions
When you move, there is an awful lot to do, and you don’t always think of things at the time, so it is a good idea to print a moving checklist and keep it handy. Don’t forget to notify friends of your move. An easy way to get the word out is to use social media and post your new address.
If you’re lucky, they will drop by with food and housewarming gifts, and offers of help. That’s what’s called having awesome friends. Go along to the new house and make sure that your mail delivery box is clearly labeled with the right street number, as you want the post office to be able to find you.
Other Things to Do When Moving Besides The USPS Address Change
Moving brings about a ton of things that should be done to make your transition smooth from one home to the next. Here are some things to consider when you have never moved before.
- Get your new house professionally cleaned.
- Change the locks on the new house. Many people are burgled soon after moving from one house to another.
- Get your utilities up and running.
- Locate the fuse box and the main water source.
- If you have a child or toddler, do some childproofing and identifying hazards.
- Make sure the fences and boundaries are secure to keep dogs and kids in.
- Be sure to find your local health care provider, and get an emergency phone number.
- Change your vehicle registration address.
- Change your license to drive address.
- Update your insurances.
- Connect all your appliances, and when you first move a refrigerator, you can’t turn it on for about two hours of being upright.
- Find out when the rubbish and recycling removal comes. You will have plenty to dispose of.
- Connect your internet. You can’t live without it.
- On the day of the move, ask a friend or family member to take the kids and the dog for the day. The reality is small children and animals will only be in the way. They are better off being entertained elsewhere.
Forgetting The USPS Address Change Can Cause Problems
Many people actually forget to change their USPS address before the move, and this causes a problem. In some moves, you find that you are still receiving mail from the previous occupant a year after you move in. This happens because they have forgotten or neglected to make the appropriate changes.
This can lead to unpaid bills and loss of valuable documentation, so it shouldn’t be ignored.
Other Address Change Issues
If you have a child who has just started school, it is imperative that they can recite your cell phone number and their new address, just in case they get lost.
Also, make sure that your pet has a tag reflecting his new address so that he can be returned to your new home if he wanders. Cats will often try to return to their old house, so if the animal wanders, he will be easily returned to you if he is wearing a tag on the collar.
Also, notify the vet that you have moved if you are staying in the same area, otherwise find a new one.
Conclusion on Change of Address
The USPS change of address is an important part of your move. When you have signed an offer on a home, getting your address change done should move to the top of your checklist, along with hiring an excellent moving company or renting your own moving truck from the Home Depot or other reputable company.
By taking care of these tasks earlier in the process, you’ll increase the odds of not having problems down the road. Hopefully, you have found this simple guide on address changes to be useful.
