Moving can be both exciting and stressful. It doesn’t matter if you’re moving for work, to be with your significant other, downsizing, want to take advantage of changes in the real estate market, or just want a change of scenery; there’s a lot of opportunity. However, there’s a lot of stress, much of which is tied to little things that can very easily be taken for granted. The sheer number of small things that can fly under the radar with everything going on is very high, and it would be understandable to miss a few. Luckily, by creating a simple change of address checklist, you can be more confident that you’ll remember what you need to without the major headaches.
Not only will your moving change of address checklist in Ontario provide a visual reminder of who you need to update and what you need to do, but it will also allow you to keep track of who you have notified and what needs to be done next. Even if you have a great memory, it can be easy to forget something when you’re busy moving. By creating a change of address checklist, you can ensure that your address is properly updated with everyone, including your employer, bank, favourite food delivery service, and home insurance broker.
In the weeks leading up to a move, you can easily find yourself overwhelmed. Do I have enough boxes? What should I do about my dishes? What if I pack something I really need later on? What if my movers can’t find my new place? It can be easy to go down a rabbit hole of what-ifs, and that’s where having lists like a change of address checklist for Ontario residents can come in handy.
In the weeks before you move, you’ll want to make sure you have handled a lot of the tasks on your change of address checklist. These include:
This is just the start, as packing and planning can be daunting. Make sure you speak with your movers, insurance providers, and any new landlords and/or building administration to ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to moving day. For a more detailed list of what to do when moving, you may require a full moving checklist to ensure you don’t forget anything, in addition to a change of address checklist. Ontario insurance brokers at Morison Insurance will be happy to help you determine what you need to do to make sure you are properly prepared for your upcoming move.
With all of your most valuable possessions loaded up onto moving vehicles, you might worry that your most treasured items might not make it. While you are likely being careful, and it is safe to assume that any moving company you hire or friends and family you ask for assistance will do the same, there’s still a chance something could go wrong. That’s why one of the first things on your moving change of address checklist in Ontario or across Canada is to know if your belongings are covered when using a moving company and get any coverage you need just to be safe. Your Morison Insurance broker will be able to help you figure out your insurance needs, and what additional coverages or policy changes you may need in your new home.
One of the easiest things to forget about moving is telling everyone that you’re doing it. Sure, there are times when you’re excited to the point where you’ll tell a lot of people, but it’s likely you’ll miss a few by accident, which can cause trouble for you later on. A few of these service providers will require plenty of notice, but most of them aren’t big, as you shouldn’t need to fill out a three-page legal document to let your siblings know you’re moving. However, forgetting something on your change of address checklist could lead to a bigger headache down the road, so it’s recommended that you give everyone you can notice in ample time.
So who do you need to include on your change of address checklist? While the exact people may differ depending on your needs, generally, your moving checklist in Ontario should include insurance and financial institutions, medical providers, utility providers, government institutions, professional and educational contacts, and personal contacts.
There’s almost always some paperwork to complete when you’re updating your contact details with financial institutions. One of the main reasons for this being near the top of your change of address checklist is that these places often send important documents via traditional mail, and you don’t want these documents sent to your old address, especially when they contain information that can often be very sensitive. A stranger with ill intent could use this information to steal from your accounts and/or commit identity theft, both of which have the potential to cripple you financially or even legally, so it’s important to let them know about your new address.
These are probably the first things that come to mind when you hear of financial institutions. You don’t want your banking details or the updated card your credit card company just sent to fall into the wrong hands.
It’s an important part of your change of address checklist to let every financial institution you’re with know so that critical mix-ups like this don’t happen. Most of these places let you update your address online and offer options for doing so either over the phone or in person. It is best you do this a couple of weeks before the actual change of address. This is because you don’t want something they sent to your old address before the move to arrive after you’ve left.
This is most necessary with your home insurance, as the address that you’re insuring is needed to give you proper coverage. It becomes even more critical if the type of home you’re moving to is changing, as traditional homeowners insurance is different from tenant insurance and condo insurance.
It’s important to note that this also impacts all your insurance policies. Your postal code is almost certain to impact your auto insurance as well. Having something like the wrong address on your insurance policy will almost certainly make any claims much more difficult if you’re still eligible for them at all. This is also true for any of your add-ons, so if you’re with more than one insurance company, you’re going to need to contact all of them.
Healthcare services also contact people via mail, and these places also sometimes send you sensitive information, and your mailing address is important for their records. If you’re making a move to a place that’s further away, you might want to change medical services since it’s likely not worth travelling for a few hours just for a check-up. However, if you’re staying in the same city, keeping your current healthcare provider is certainly an option. In this case, you still need to add communicating with these services to your change of address checklist so that they can keep their records up to date.
Remembering to update them can often lead to confusion or misunderstandings later, so it is important to let them know now to ensure a smooth and safe transition and move to a new home and tick off items on your complete change of address checklist.
Doctors will, unsurprisingly, often have very detailed information about their clients. This information contains your home address, as well as any other information they feel is needed to contact you. Doctors, however, keep things relatively simple when it comes to keeping your address up to date. When checking them off your change of address checklist, simply letting the right employees know when you’re in to visit them should be enough to get your records updated. If you don’t have any appointments scheduled, you should be able to have them update the address listed on your records with a simple phone call.
The situation with dentists is very similar to that of doctors in that their records are quite detailed, but their step in the change of address checklist is very simple. If you’re due for a visit soon before the move, it’s a perfect time to let them know. Otherwise, it is recommended that you call the office to give them a heads-up and allow them to make the update before your next appointment.
Human doctors aren’t the only ones who provide medical services and keep files on you. Your pet's medical workers also need to know that you’re moving. In addition to visiting or calling them as part of your change of address checklist, it is also recommended that you get up to date on any vaccinations or anything else needed before you fully begin the moving process to help cut down on stress.
Whether it's your internet provider, gas, or electric company, cell phone service provider, , it's important to notify your utility providers of the address change and moving dates so they know when to stop service at your old address on file. It will also allow you to ensure that you haven't missed any final bills and schedule service start dates for your new address as part of your address change checklist.
Provincial and federal government agencies likely have more information on you than anyone else listed here. However, even with how careful they are, they won’t know you moved unless your change of address checklist includes governmental agencies. Some government services will need to know your new address as soon as possible to continue receiving services and prevent anything from happening.
Moving couldn’t be any more fun, could it? You have logistics, schedule coordination, commuting, packing, unpacking, and budgeting to look forward to, and now you get the exciting opportunity to go through how this impacts your taxes. Lucky you! All joking aside, it is important to include contacting the CRA as part of your change of address checklist so that tax time doesn’t get any more difficult.
The CRA does allow for a few ways to let them know. If you’re moving right around tax return time, you can simply write your updated address when filing your tax documents. The other three ways are doing so online on their website and following the instructions, calling them, or by mail by submitting an RC325 form.
My Service Canada also requires you to update them on an address change. This will ensure that you remain eligible for government programs such as employment insurance, pension benefits, social security, and other benefits. When checking them off your change of address checklist, you have a few options. You can go to their site to leave a request for them to call you back, call them yourself and explain you moved, or go to one of their physical locations to do so.
Since your ID lists your address, it makes sense that you need to update it. This step on your change of address checklist will almost certainly require you to visit a Service Ontario location. Your health card, vehicle registration, and driver’s license, if you have one, are the pieces of ID you need to update. It should also be noted that your updated ID will most likely come to you in the mail 4-6 weeks after the update.
There will be time limits for you to update this information, so you should make a note of that on your change of address checklist. For example, you are legally mandated to update both your driver’s license and vehicle registration within six days of your move, and your health card within 30 days of your address change. Missing a deadline can result in coverage lapses, potential fines, missed notifications, and other issues, so it’s best to ensure you do not miss these deadlines by including them as high priorities on your change of address checklist.
We recommend including Canada Post on your change of address checklist for a couple of reasons. First, they may be able to alert government agencies or financial institutions about the address change on your behalf. You may also have a box or service with them under your name where you will need to update the address for.
The second reason is for mail forwarding service, which allows Canada Post to forward mail from your old address to your new one for a set period of time. While you will have to pay for this service, it allows for a grace period, especially if someone sends you mail close to the day of your move or you forget to update your address with someone. This will help make for a more seamless move into your new place, making this a crucial addition to any change of address checklist in Ontario and throughout Canada.
As with many of the others on your change of address checklist, these places have detailed records on you, as they will often need that information to contact you. To prevent any miscommunication or issues arising from your move, make sure to update this information as soon as possible.
Most companies request some personal information from their employees when the employee is first hired. This information includes your current address, so you must tell your employer when you move so they can update your file. This step on your change of address checklist, however, is usually a relatively simple affair, as it is most likely that all you will need to do is contact HR, and they will update your file accordingly.
There are a few different scenarios for this step on your change of address checklist. One is that you or your spouse might be currently attending a post-secondary institution. Another situation is if you have kids that attend school. It is also possible that someone in your home is attending night classes or a similar continuing education program. In any of these cases, it is your responsibility to let the school know of the address change.
How this works will depend on the individual institution. Sometimes, you need to let the institution know of any address updates in writing. Other places may accept phone calls or let you make the switch online. It’s best to contact any educational institution in question to find out the process and follow the instructions they give you.
Not everyone you talk with when completing your change of address checklist is some official person who you need to let know for business or legal purposes. There are people who make your life worth living, and they also need to know that you moved. This is partially because they might be mailing you something, but there’s also the possibility that they will visit you one day.
Your parents will almost certainly have a bit of a moment if they come to visit you, and “your” place is currently inhabited by a bunch of strangers. Luckily, these are generally some of the easiest people to let know: simply call or text them about the address change. Or, if you prefer a more personal touch, send them a letter or postcard in the mail with your new address.
This should go without saying, but sometimes you get so busy with your change of address checklist that you might forget to tell some personal contacts. While it is likely that telling a few people in a network will mean that the message gets around to everyone, it is better to be safe than sorry and ensure everyone close to you knows. While it may not be necessary to contact your father’s brother’s nephew’s cousin’s former roommate about your move, everyone who would realistically visit you or send you a letter should be notified before the move. In addition, anyone who’s helping you move should be informed of the new location’s address well in advance.
When you’re tied down needing to contact a bunch of people whom you legally need to, it is easy to forget that your change of address checklist includes contacts with a few companies that you associate with just because you enjoy them. Places that deliver things like Amazon, as well as many magazine subscriptions, should be let know first. Also, streaming services, gyms, and other places will need to know at some point, but that is much less urgent. Still, make sure to include them on your change of address checklist, as it may cause issues if a payment is due but won’t go through because the information associated with your credit card has changed.
After you go through all the items in your change of address checklist and get settled into your new home, it’s important to remember the reason you moved in the first place. Whether you wanted to get a bigger place as you moved up in the world, downsized to simplify your life, or simply figured that a new location would benefit you, you figured life after the move would be better for you. Enjoy the better life your new home presents. And don’t forget to protect it with the right insurance coverage from Morison Insurance.
This content is written by our Morison Insurance team. All
information posted is merely for educational and informational purposes. It is
not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Should you decide to act
upon any information in this article, you do so at your own risk. While the
information on this website has been verified to the best of our abilities, we
cannot guarantee that there are no mistakes or errors.
