The key to a smooth move is organization. Based on our years of experience, we have compiled a relocation checklist featuring a series of helpful hints and useful suggestions to assist you in organizing and planning your next move, and how changing your address online can be easy.

Easy tips for changing your address online

One of the first things to do when you’re moving is to submit a change of address with the Post Office. The reasons why are obvious–even if you’ve already contacted every single person you’ve ever met and every company you’ve ever done business with to inform them of your new address, there still exists a small chance that somebody somewhere will not get the message.

The repercussions of such an occurrence can range from nil to massive, with the worst possible scenario resulting in having your identity stolen and your credit ruined if a sensitive document intended for your eyes only falls into the wrong hands.

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Alas, there are some people who detest the idea of setting foot inside the Post Office and go out of their way at every opportunity to avoid doing so. If this describes you, the Post Office has made things much simpler by allowing you to change your address online. You don’t even have to pick up a phone to do so. And all it’ll cost you is $1.

How does it work to change your address online?

simply follow the instructions below

Go to www.usps.com Read the Privacy Act Statement and acknowledge that you’ve done so in order to continue.

Indicate if the move you’re making is permanent or temporary. If you’re not sure what category your move falls into, the Post Office’s definition of “temporary” is less than 12 months. If you’ll be gone forever, or longer than 12 months, indicate that your relocation is permanent.

Indicate if it’s just you moving, the entire household, or a business. The Post Office can sort your individual mail if you’re the only one leaving.

 

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Set a specific date to start forwarding your mail, and bear in mind that the Post Office might take as many as 10 days to process your request. Enter your current address and your future address.

Pay $1 with a valid credit card that’s tied to your current address. This fee is charged so that the Post Office can verify your identity and ensure it’s really you who’s requesting to reroute your mail elsewhere.

This is a security precaution that’s well worth the $1, but if you’d rather not pay you can always manually fill out a change of address form at your nearest Post Office branch.

Changing your address by phone also requires the $1 credit card verification, so if you’re looking for an absolutely free way of submitting a change of address, it’ll have to be done in person or by mail.

The Six-Month Limit

When you submit a change of address with the Post Office, as a part of the agreement they’ll continue to forward your mail to your new address for a period of six months.

If you’re still getting forwarded mail after this time, you can always request to have another six-month extension just to be absolutely sure that mail that was intended for you doesn’t inadvertently wind up in the wrong hands. As they say, better safe than sorry.