Moving apartments is a busy time. Whether you view it as stressful, exciting or both, there is no doubt that there is a lot to do. You must clean and pack and get things moved to your new place where you will likely do more cleaning before you unpack. Meanwhile, there is the whole job of keeping the rest of your life moving while shifting it into a new place. In all the commotion, it is easy to overlook some things like who you should notify when you move to a new apartment. As one of the best NYC movers, we can help with the heavy lifting, but these lighter tasks are up to you… well sort of. We put together a list to help you out some. Here is our complete list of people and places you should inform of your change of address.
Family and Friends
If you are making such a big transition in your life, chances are good that these are the first people who will know about it. But just because they know you are moving, doesn’t mean that they will necessarily have your new address. If you want to continue to receive birthday cards and visits– heck, if you just want them to help you move– you should probably inform these people of where you are going.
Utilities
When you move into a new apartment, you will probably want things like electricity and heat in your new place. If that is the case, you should let your utility companies know that you are moving. If you’re relocating within NYC, they can likely switch your service from one location to another. And if you are transitioning to an area that they don’t serve, then you will want to know as soon as possible so you can get in touch with a service provider in your new area. As generous a thing as it would be, you also do not want to provide free service to the new tenants of your old place. See our post on setting up utilities in NYC for information on transferring ConEd service and other utility providers.
Financial Institutions
You should notify your bank and any other institution that you receive money from or send money to of your impending move. This notice allows the bank to update their records and ensures that money and financial and tax information are going to the correct address.
Schools
If you have children, you should let your child’s school know as soon as possible. Sometimes a change of address can mean a different school district. Your children may have an easier time making friends with the local children if they are also riding the bus and going to school with them. It also makes it easier for the school to know who to contact in the event of an emergency.
Employer
If your move means a change in jobs, it is only right to let your current employer know that you will be leaving. Informing your employer well in advance of your departure allows the employer to find and train a suitable replacement. Giving them advanced notice to prepare also makes an employer more inclined to offer a favorable review of your performance to your next employer.
Subscriptions
If you subscribe to a magazine or book of the month club or any other subscription service, it is a good idea to let them know about your move. You may not get your expected items if you don’t.
Post Office
You can go to USPS.com/move, or you can go to your local post office and request a mover’s guide and change of address form. Whichever way you decide to do it, changing your address with the post office will ensure that anyone you forgot to contact will be able to find you.
When you move, you have a lot of things on your mind. Making up a list before you get started can help you keep all the necessary tasks organized so that you don’t forget anything important. This list will help to make sure you notify everyone who needs to know if your impending move.
