Finding the perfect place to settle is everyone's dream: a friendly neighborhood and a convenient location. But before you can relax in a new residence, several factors require fixing—updating and changing to your new address to be exact. 

Whether you plan to relocate across the country or town, the moving process is quite stressful. Your utilities must be reinstated or canceled; choose a reliable moving company or ask help from friends. The long to-do-list goes on until you're all set to relax. Assuming you've already decided, here's a quick overview of what you need to know before moving out and changing your address.

Who Do You Need To Notify When Changing Your Address

The thought of moving to your dream home is already inspiring and exciting. While it's the next level of achievement, there are several factors that you may want to consider before moving out or booking a moving company to take all your stuff. There are some important people that you'll need to notify.

Aside from ticking your basic moving-out checklist, several groups need a heads up to this life event. First, ensure you update places and people to avoid service lapses or missed bills. You can start with your post office change of address notification to ensure your mails are handled properly and forwarded accordingly.

Whether you update your credentials online and set it up for a specific date, you'll know that mails will get your new residence on time. Aside from the post office, here's who you need to notify upon moving: 

• Family and friends

• Tax agencies

• Electric and gas

• Social security administrations

• Internet, cable, phone, and other utilities

• Your employer

• Renter's or home insurance

• Loan and insurance providers

• Your credit card company and bank

• Other financial companies and agencies

• Online shopping websites

• Magazine or other service subscriptions

• Individual service providers

Moving into your new home is worth celebrating. However, you'll want to settle and take care of everything to prevent future issues from any missed mail. Remember that when you update your bank address, it requires you to update details of the billing address to various services or stores billed in your account.

5 Essential Factors When Changing Address

Notifying the right people when changing addresses is essential. However, whether first-time to move or not, here are several vital factors you'll need to understand before you move out and change your current address. 

The relocation process is filled with all sorts of tasks. Before settling in, it's important to check your options ahead of time to help you save time, effort, money and skip all the stress away. You also have four options to change and update your address: in your local post office, online, by mail, or by phone.

Before registering a new address with the United States Post Service (USPS), here's what you'll need to know: 

1. Correct and complete new address

It can be silly, but it happens—registering an incorrect or incomplete address with the USPS. While you are trying to avoid all the stress due to fatigue and all sorts of tasks, moving out can take its toll upon you.

Ensure that you know the correct and complete new address of your residence. You can do this by confirming with your landlord or realtor to ensure an error-free address of the new apartment or house. Double-check your ZIP code and check all details accordingly.

2. Filing a permanent or temporary COA

When you change your address, you'll need to decide whether you'll file a permanent or temporary COA.

• Permanent change of address

This means the mailing address is permanently changed and not for a certain season. Opt to choose this option if you don't have a plan to move residence in the future.  

• Temporary change of address

This means your mails are forwarded from the previous residence address to the new one for a certain time. The process works effectively if you temporarily moved house during cold winter seasons to a warmer area in a specific timeframe. 

3. How long will it take for a COA to take effect?

Generally, the process of moving and updating your COA can take effect for about seven business days upon change of address is requested. The process is typically affected by several factors, including the time of the year, complete location, request quantity, and more. 

The process for the previous address can take about three business days and three more to update the current address. That will give you 7 business days until your new mailing address takes effect. 

4. Family or individual change of address

The United States Post Service COA, when moving out, requires you to submit on your COA the names of every person moving out with you or moved together in your household. 

You will need to update a different COA request for people with different surnames living with you or moving to a different area while others will stay behind. The process can be tough and time-consuming, but this allows the USPS to forward mails that match the recipient's name included in your household. 

5. How long in advance do you need to do a COA when moving?

Options vary from scenario to scenario. Several experts advise you to do it in advance, like two weeks in advance of your moving out. This gives a great allowance for the process to be fixed and update your new address on the mailing service. 

Though the time frame varies and there are still instances of missed letters, it's best to plan ahead of time and seek help to lessen the workload to help you focus on other vital issues moving forward. 

Final Words

Moving out and moving in can be stressful and chaotic. To avoid the common pitfalls and issues due to busy preparations, follow a moving checklist. This will allow you to effectively plan and reduce all potential stress with the moving procedure and updating your COA.