New Beginnings

New Beginnings

What to do as soon as you move into a new house?

Moving into a new house is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. There are a lot of things to take care of, and it’s easy to forget something important. To make sure that you don’t miss anything, we’ve put together a checklist of what to do as soon as you move into a new house after closing.

Change Your Address

Important things you should do when you move into a new house are to change your address. You’ll need to update your address with:

Canada Post – To change your address with Canada Post, you can follow these steps:

Online: Visit the Canada Post website and select “Change my address” under the “Personal” section. Follow the prompts to provide your old and new address information, and pay the processing fee.

Phone: Call Canada Post at 1-866-607-6301 to speak with a representative who can assist you in updating your address.

In-person: Visit a Canada Post retail location and complete a Change of Address request form. You will need to provide identification and pay the processing fee.

Note that it is recommended to update your address with Canada Post at least two weeks before your move to ensure that your mail is forwarded to your new address without interruption.

Use Mail Forwarding to forward any personal or business mail from your old address to your new one so that you don’t miss any important information. This should be completed a few weeks before your moving date to ensure nothing gets missed.

Canada Revenue Agency – To change your address with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), you can follow these steps:

Online: Log in to your CRA My Account and select “Change my address” under the “Manage contact information” section. Follow the prompts to update your information.

Phone: Call the CRA at 1-800-959-8281 to speak with a representative who can assist you in updating your address.

Mail: You can also update your address by completing and mailing the RC325 – Address change request form to the address listed on the form.

Make sure to update your address with the CRA as soon as possible to ensure that you receive important tax-related correspondence and refunds at your new address.

Local Registry – Known as Service Ontario. In Ontario, If you’re living in Ontario, Canada, and you need to change your address with Service Ontario, update your driver’s license and health care cards, and get a new license plate if you’re moving to a new province, here are the steps you can take:

Change your address with Service Ontario: You can change your address with Service Ontario in person at a Service Ontario Centre, online through Service Ontario’s website, or by calling the Service Ontario Contact Centre at 1-800-267-8097. You will need to provide your current address, new address, and other personal information.

Update your driver’s license: To update your driver’s license, visit a Service Ontario Centre with your current driver’s license and two pieces of identification that prove your new address, such as a utility bill or a lease agreement. You will also need to pay a fee.

Update your health care card: To update your health care card, visit a Service Ontario Centre with your current health card and two pieces of identification that prove your new address. There is no fee for updating your health care card.

Get a new license plate if moving to a new province: If you’re moving to a new province, you will need to surrender your Ontario license plates and get new ones in your new province. To surrender your license plates, bring them to a Service Ontario Centre along with your vehicle permit and proof of insurance. Service Ontario will give you a plate surrender receipt that you will need to provide to the motor vehicle agency in your new province.

Changing your address with your bank and credit card company. It’s an important step to ensure that you receive important financial information and to prevent any potential fraud. Here are some steps you can take to change your address with your bank and Credit Card Company:

Notify your bank: The first step is to contact your bank and let them know that you have moved. You can do this by calling their customer service number, visiting a branch in person, or using their online banking service. Be prepared to provide your account number, old address, and new address.

Update your mailing address: Once your bank has updated your address, make sure that your mailing address is also updated. This is the address that the bank will use to send you account statements, new cards, and other important information.

Notify your credit card companies: Similarly, contact your credit card companies and let them know that you have moved. You can do this by calling their customer service number, visiting their website, or sending them a message through their mobile app. Again, be prepared to provide your account number, old address, and new address.

Update your billing address: After you have notified your credit card companies, make sure that your billing address is also updated. This is the address that the credit card companies will use to send you statements and other important information.

Check for any updates: Once you have updated your address, keep an eye on your accounts and credit reports to ensure that your new address is reflected accurately.

It is important to keep your address up to date to ensure that you receive important financial information and to prevent any potential fraud.

Updating your address with your insurance broker or company after moving to a new home is important for several reasons:

Accurate coverage: Your insurance policies are based on the information you provide to your insurance company, including your address. If you fail to update your address after moving to a new home, your insurance company may not have accurate information about where you live, which can affect the coverage you receive.

Rental insurance: If you have rental insurance, your policy may need to be updated with your new address to ensure that your belongings are still covered while you live in your new home.

Auto insurance rates: Your auto insurance rates are often based on your address, as certain areas may have higher rates of accidents, theft, or other risks. If you fail to update your address with your auto insurance company, you may be paying too much (or too little) for your coverage.

Legal requirements: Depending on where you live, there may be legal requirements for updating your address with your insurance company. Failing to do so could result in penalties or even the invalidation of your insurance coverage.

Update your address with utilities: After moving to a new home for several reasons:

Continued service: Utilities such as gas, electricity, water, and internet are essential services that you rely on to live comfortably in your home. If you fail to update your address with the utilities, they may not be able to continue providing service to you, or you may receive bills for the previous occupant.

Accurate billing: Updating your address with utilities ensures that you receive accurate bills based on your actual usage. This can help you avoid overpaying or underpaying for your utilities.

Avoiding disconnection: If your bills are sent to the wrong address, you may not receive them promptly, which could result in missed payments and the disconnection of your services.

To update your address with utilities, you can typically do so online or by phone. You may need to provide some personal information, such as your name, account number, and new address. It is a good idea to update your address with the utilities as soon as possible after moving to your new home to avoid any interruptions in service or billing issues.

Update your address with educational institutions, particularly schools. When you move, especially if your children will be attending the same school as before the move, for several reasons:

Ensure effective communication: By updating your address, you can ensure that the school can communicate with you effectively about important matters, such as school events, parent-teacher conferences, and emergencies. This can help you stay informed and involved in your child’s education.

Enable timely delivery of important documents: Updating your address also ensures that important documents, such as report cards, transcripts, and other academic records, are delivered to the correct address promptly. This can be particularly important if your child is applying for college or transferring to a new school.

Comply with school district residency requirements: Many school districts require families to reside within a certain geographic area for their children to attend the local schools. By updating your address, you can ensure that you comply with these residency requirements and avoid any potential legal issues.

Keep emergency contacts up-to-date: In case of an emergency, the school needs to be able to contact you or other designated emergency contacts as quickly as possible. Updating your address can ensure that the school has accurate contact information for you and your family.

In short, updating your address with educational institutions is crucial to ensure effective communication, timely delivery of important documents, compliance with residency requirements, and accurate emergency contact information.

Keep your address updated with medical personnel: You would need to keep your address updated with medical personnel for several reasons:

Effective Communication: Updating your address ensures that you receive important communication from your doctor, dentist, veterinarian, and other medical practitioners. They may need to contact you regarding appointments, test results, or treatment plans. By providing them with your correct address, you can ensure that you receive these important communications promptly.

Timely Access to Medical Care: In case of an emergency, having your current address on file with your medical providers can be crucial. It ensures that they can quickly locate you and provide necessary medical care. This can be especially important if you have a chronic medical condition or require regular medical attention.

Medical Records Management: Your medical records are important for managing your health care. By keeping your address up-to-date, you can ensure that your medical records are accurate and complete. This can be especially important if you see multiple medical providers or receive care from different medical facilities.

Insurance and Billing: Your address is an important part of your medical billing and insurance information. If your address is incorrect, you may not receive bills or insurance statements, which can lead to missed payments or delayed insurance coverage. By updating your address, you can avoid these issues and ensure that your medical billing and insurance information is accurate.

Memberships and Subscriptions:  It is important to update your address with memberships and subscriptions such as gym, clubs, and other services to ensure that you continue to receive their communications and services without any interruption.

Here are some reasons why it’s important to keep your address updated:

Billing: Most memberships and subscriptions require regular billing, either on a monthly or yearly basis. If your address is outdated, you may not receive your billing statement, which can lead to late fees or even the cancellation of your membership.

Communication: Gyms and clubs may send out newsletters, updates on events, or other important information related to their services. If you don’t receive these communications, you may miss out on important news or events.

Delivery of goods or services: If you have a subscription to a product or service that requires physical delivery, such as a magazine or meal kit service, an outdated address can cause the delivery to go to the wrong location, which can be both inconvenient and frustrating.

Safety: In some cases, memberships or subscriptions may require emergency contact information or other personal details, such as your address. Keeping this information updated can ensure that the right people can be contacted in case of an emergency.

Overall, keeping your address updated with your memberships and subscriptions is important to ensure that you can continue to enjoy their services without any disruption. It also ensures that you can stay informed and connected with the services you have chosen to subscribe to.

Moving into a new house can be stressful, but with this checklist, you can make sure that you don’t forget anything important.