Whether you’re relocating across town or cross-country, you likely have a long to-do list of must-do activities – from hiring residential movers to sorting and packing your belongings and scheduling utility hookups in your new location. Amid all the responsibilities you’re juggling, you might inadvertently forget about what happens to your mail during a move. Here’s why mail forwarding should be part of your moving checklist and how to set it up.
What Is Mail Forwarding?
Even if you have set up automated bill pay and conduct most of your business online, there are still some things you can only have delivered via hard-copy mail:
- IRS notices
- Social Security information
- Credit and debit cards
- Vehicle title and registration information
- Passports
- Driver’s license
- Jury duty notices
- Gifts or handwritten notes
- Correspondence from your college alumni association
When relocating, you could either separately inform everyone who sends you mail about your address change, or you could simplify things with mail forwarding from the U.S. Postal Service. The USPS offers this service on a permanent or temporary basis so individuals, families and businesses can notify the USPS of their move and ensure there is no interruption to their mail delivery.
Without a mail forwarding order in place, the USPS has no way to know you are moving, and you might miss valuable information from state and local government entities, financial institutions, utility providers or loved ones. If you do not set up mail forwarding, the USPS will return or discard any mail they cannot deliver to you.
How to Set up Mail Forwarding With the USPS
USPS’ mail forwarding service lets you select the date you want them to start sending your mail to your new address. On or soon after your selected date, you should begin receiving mail at your new home.
After you fully fill out and submit your request, the USPS will send a move validation letter to your current address. Once they finish processing your change of address form, they’ll then send an official USPS notification letter or welcome kit to your new address, including a confirmation code. Be sure to keep a record of this number somewhere safe, because you’ll need it to edit or cancel your mail forwarding request in the future.
Since the entire mail forwarding process can take up to 10 business days to take effect, allow the postal service about a week after your preferred date before notifying them of any missing mail. Your best bet is to stop by your local post office with your confirmation code and a photo ID so they can verify it’s really you.
Simplify Your Next Move
Moving can be one of life’s most stressful experiences, but it doesn’t have to be. When you choose an experienced, professional moving company, we can take some of that burden off your shoulders by arriving on time, carefully packing your treasured possessions, loading and unloading heavy items and providing white-glove delivery to your new location. When you’re ready to move your home or business, trust Fox Moving and Storage Charlotte to provide excellent service.
To request a free quote for your next move, reach out to us today. We can be ready within one hour’s notice, 24 hours per day and seven days a week.