Moving is all about change – change of surroundings, change of opportunities, change of lifestyle… Many of these changes will take place the moment you move to your new location, without you having to do – or being able to do – anything about them.
There are, however, some things that you will have to change yourself after the move – documents, services, registrations, etc. No matter how drained you may be after the arduous relocation process, you will have to find the time and make the effort to take care of these important changes – and there will be deadlines for completing some of them, so you won’t be able to put them off for long.
What’s more, there may be some things that you don’t necessarily have to change after moving to a new house, but you may want to change anyway – your job, your bank, your doctor, your daily routine, etc.
So, what to change when moving? And what to be aware of when making the necessary – or desirable – changes?
Here is a list of things to change when you move – and some useful advice in regard to them.
Address
When you move to a new home, you will have a new address, of course.
So, the first and most important thing to change when moving is your postal address.
It’s best to change your address with the USPS about two weeks before the relocation, so your request is processed by the time the move takes place and you start receiving your mail at your new address immediately after the move.
You can change your address online or over the phone or just visit the nearest USPS office and fill out the PS Form 3575 to start the COA procedure.
Do not forget to notify all the people and institutions you interact with of your new address so you don’t lose any important mail or experience any service lapses.
See also: How to change your address when moving; Who to notify when you move
Utilities
You will need electricity, gas, water, Internet, cable TV, and other services in your new home, so when you move and change your address, you will need to change the utilities as well.
Depending on how far you’re moving, you may be able to simply transfer the utilities to your new address (when moving locally and staying in the service area of your current utility companies) or you may need to look for new service providers (when moving out of state).
Either way, you need to arrange for the utilities in your old home to be disconnected on the day after move-out day and the utilities in your new home to be running on move-in day.
If you can transfer the utilities, you’ll retain your accounts and won’t need to pay anything.
If you need to change the utilities, you’ll have to cancel them at your old place, find new service providers in your new area, and arrange the service activation in your new home. In this case, you’ll have to pay a cancellation fee, a deposit, and a connection fee.
See also: How to transfer utilities when moving
Locks and keys
The keys to your new house or apartment should be among the first things to change when you move.
You and your family should be the only ones who have access to the home and there is no way to know who may have copies of the old keys, so it’s crucial to change the locks as soon as possible after the move.
While you’re at it, consider updating the entire home security system – install a burglar alarm, put video cameras at key places around the property, add exterior lights, install smoke detectors in every room (or replace the batteries of existing ones), etc.
See also: How to improve home security after a move
Insurance policies
It’s only natural that when you move to a new home, you will have to change your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. When moving out of state, however, you may also need to change your health insurance and your auto insurance.
In most cases, when you move to a different state, you’ll need to get new health insurance – most health coverage plans are tied to a specific state, so your current plan won’t cross state lines with you. In order to be covered in your new state, you will need to enroll in a health insurance plan in that state.
See also: How to change health insurance when moving out of state
When changing states, you may need to change your auto insurance policy as well. Contact your current auto insuring company and check whether they have coverage in the new state or not:
- If they do, you may be able to stay with them (since you’ve moved to another state, though, your policy rates and coverage may change);
- If they don’t, you’ll need to find a new auto insurer in your new state and purchase a new auto insurance policy.
Car registration and driver’s license
When asking yourself “What do I need to change when I move house?”, your car registration and driver’s license will likely be among the first things to come to mind.
And rightly so – while you will only need to update your address with the DMV when moving locally, if you move to another state, you will be required to get a local driver’s license and re-register your vehicle in your new state. The deadlines vary from state to state, but you will usually have 30 days after the move to take care of the paperwork.
See also: Do I need to update my driver’s license after moving?
Voter registration
While changing documents and updating your address with government and public offices, you should remember to change your voter registration as well.
If you want to be able to vote in local, state, and federal elections in your new location, you will have to register your address at the town hall of your new place of residence and get your name on the electoral roll.
Keep in mind that in most states the voter registration deadline varies between two and four weeks before an election.
See also: How to change voter registration after moving
Healthcare providers
When wondering what to change when you move, you should prioritize the most important things first – and health care is of topmost importance.
Unless you have only moved across town, you will need a new doctor after the relocation – you will have to find a skilled and reliable family physician in your new area. And you will not only need a primary care doctor, but also a dentist and maybe even some specialized doctors too. If you have a pet, you will need a new vet as well.
Ask for recommendations and use trustworthy online resources to look for healthcare providers in your new city. Visit several reputable doctors in person to talk to them and choose the right ones for you and your family.
See also: How to find a new doctor after moving
School
If you have school-aged children, they will have to change schools when you move to a new location (unless you’ve moved somewhere very near to your old home and your new residence is located in the same school district).
Changing schools is usually very hard for kids, especially for teenagers, so you will have to be very patient and supportive during this transitional period – and you will have to do your best to find an educational institution in your new area that suits your children’s needs, abilities, and interests and offers a friendly and motivating learning environment.
Be sure to take care of all the required paperwork in time (collect school records and recommendation letters, apply to your chosen school, enroll your kids, etc.) and do everything possible to help your children adapt to the new school and the new environment.
See also: How to find a good new school for your child after moving
Bank
Moving house doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to change banks, but in some cases, it may be the better option.
Your bank may not have a local branch in your new area. Despite the convenience of online banking, you may need to visit a physical bank branch from time to time – and may not want to drive for miles to do so. In such a case, you may decide to switch banks after the move.
Your current bank may not offer all the services you need – or a bank in your new area may offer better conditions (higher interest rates, lower fees, bonuses, etc.). If so, you may want to change banks after the relocation.
See also: How to switch banks when moving
Job
Very often people move house before they have found a job that they like in another city – or because they think they will have a better chance of landing a good job in their new area.
If that is the case with you, it means that you will change your job after the move – your workplace will change, your colleagues will change, and your actual work will change. It may be a bit hard at first, but it should be for the better.
If you’re moving for another reason (because you found a house that you like better, because you’re moving in with your significant other, etc.), you may not change your job after the relocation – provided that the distance between your new home and your workplace is commutable, of course (or remote work is a possibility).
See also: What to consider when relocating for a job; How to move to a new city without a job
Routine
Your new life after the move may necessitate a different daily routine than the one you had before – your working hours may be different, your commute time may be different, your kids may need to get up and leave for school (or come back from school) at a different time, the recreational options may be different, etc.
Or, you may want to adopt a new routine when you start a new chapter of your life – you may want to make new habits, organize your time in a different way, etc.
Either way, you can expect your daily routine to change after the move – and your entire lifestyle as well.
You may struggle with some of the bigger changes at the beginning – and it may take some time until you adapt to the new environment. Just be patient and try to accept change in a positive way – before long you’ll feel right at home in your new world.
Must-read: How to adjust after moving
