Should I change my mailing address before closing?
Should I change my mailing address before closing? — Do this now or you’ll regret it.
Quick answer: Yes — usually, but timing and method matter
If you’re selling a home in Georgetown, ON, changing your mailing address before closing can be smart — but only if you do it the right way. Do it too early, and legal notices or mortgage documents might go astray. Do it too late, and you’ll miss tax bills, final utility invoices, or closing paperwork. Get the timing and process right and you avoid delays, extra costs, and headaches on closing day.
Why this decision matters for Georgetown home sellers
Closing a sale is a deadline-driven, document-heavy process. Every important player — your lawyer (conveyancer), the buyer’s lawyer, your mortgage lender, the municipality, Canada Post, and utility companies — needs the correct address for final statements, tax bills, statements of adjustments, mailed cheques, or notices.
Get the address change wrong and you risk:
- Delayed final funds or cheques
- Missed property tax or utility bills that create liens or penalties
- Misplaced closing documents and title transfer notices
- Reopening paperwork with added legal or administrative costs
For Georgetown sellers, local rules and municipal timelines make this especially relevant. Taxes, local utility billing, and condo communications (if applicable) operate on schedules that can’t be paused for seller mistakes.
The rule of thumb: coordinate, don’t guess
- Notify your lawyer/conveyancer and mortgage lender first. They control legal documents and payout instructions.
- Use Canada Post forwarding for personal mail and notify key institutions directly.
- Avoid a full address swap until funds transfer and title registration are confirmed.
If you follow that order, you keep control without letting mailed items disappear into the unknown.
Step-by-step checklist for Georgetown sellers (do this in this order)
- Tell your lawyer/conveyancer immediately.
- They need your new mailing address for the Statement of Adjustments, final closing package, and tax/utility allocation.
- Contact your mortgage lender.
- Lenders need a valid mailing address for final statements and discharge instructions. Some banks will insist on receiving documents at your registered address until the mortgage is discharged.
- Set up Canada Post forwarding.
- Choose at least 3 months of forwarding. This catches anything mailed to the old address during municipal or corporate processing delays.
- Notify the Region of Halton / Town of Halton Hills (Georgetown specifics).
- Update property tax contact info. Confirm where final bills will be sent and when final billing occurs.
- Notify utility companies and service providers (hydro, gas, water if billed separately, waste pickup if need be).
- Update accounts tied to your address: insurance, health card, driver’s license, provincial services, bank accounts, CRA (Canada Revenue Agency).
- Communicate with the buyer’s agent / buyer where necessary.
- Clarify who is responsible for final meter reads, keys, and mail forwarding arrangement — especially if the buyer moves in immediately.
How and when to change your mailing address — practical details
- Lawyer first: Your lawyer will confirm what address must remain on record until closing is complete. Often, legal instructions prefer a stable address until title transfer and mortgage discharge are registered.
- Lender next: Some lenders require the original address for documentation until discharge. Ask whether they accept a new mailing address before the mortgage is paid off.
- Canada Post forwarding: Activate forwarding online and keep a print receipt. Forwarding can be active immediately, but don’t rely on it for legal notices. Direct notifications to institutions remain essential.
- Utilities/municipal accounts: Close or transfer utility accounts effective on closing day. Request a final bill and address for delivery of that bill.
Timing tip: Don’t flip the address the day before closing. Set the forwarding and notify key parties a couple weeks out. Confirm everything with your lawyer 48–72 hours before closing.
Local Georgetown considerations that matter
- Property tax timing: Halton Region/Town of Halton Hills issues tax notices on set dates. Confirm when final tax adjustments are calculated and where the final bill will be sent.
- Rural vs urban addresses: If your home uses a rural mailbox or private road, update both Canada Post and municipal records. These addresses can complicate forwarding.
- Condo or HOA units: Ensure the condo corporation or property manager receives your new address for any condo fees or important notices after closing.
Common mistakes Georgetown sellers make (and how to avoid them)
- Mistake: Only using Canada Post forwarding and not notifying lawyer/lender.
- Fix: Notify your lawyer and lender in writing and confirm receipt.
- Mistake: Changing the address too early.
- Fix: Keep important parties informed and wait for lawyer confirmation before making permanent changes.
- Mistake: Not checking where the final property tax bill will be sent.
- Fix: Call the Town of Halton Hills to confirm final tax mailing details.
- Mistake: Assuming the buyer will take responsibility for mail.
- Fix: Arrange forwarding and handover of mail with the buyer on possession day.
Closing day checklist: mailing and document items to confirm
- Confirm with your lawyer where the final Statement of Adjustments will be sent.
- Confirm the address the mortgage lender will use for final statements or cheque disbursements.
- Confirm Canada Post forwarding is activated and forwarding start date.
- Provide the buyer and buyer’s agent your forwarding details for residual mail or packages.
- Get confirmation from utilities that final meter reads and billing are scheduled.
When you might not want to change the mailing address before closing
- If your lender or lawyer insists that the legal address remain until discharge is registered. They may require documents to go to the original address for security and verification reasons.
- If you expect significant legal or tax documents tied to the existing address that must arrive without delay.
If either condition applies, keep the address as-is for legal purposes and use Canada Post forwarding for personal items.
Costs and timeline to expect
- Canada Post forwarding: modest fee for online setup; options for 3, 6, or 12 months.
- Legal/mortgage delays: Mistakes on address can result in reissued cheques or trips to the bank; those costs vary but can be several hundred dollars in administrative fees.
- Time: Allow 1–2 weeks to notify institutions and confirm updates. Activate forwarding at least 2 weeks before closing for safety.
Knock-it-out plan for smart sellers in Georgetown, ON
- Two weeks before closing — tell your lawyer and mortgage lender your new mailing address and confirm any restrictions.
- Two weeks before closing — activate Canada Post forwarding and keep the confirmation receipt.
- One week before closing — notify the Town of Halton Hills and utility providers of closure/transfer dates.
- 48–72 hours before closing — get final confirmation from your lawyer that all documents and payout instructions are set.
- On closing day — hand the buyer written forwarding instructions and confirm keys and meter readings.
Do those five things and you won’t be in the 30% of sellers who face last-minute mail and bill headaches.
FAQ — Mailing address and closing process for Georgetown home sellers
Q: Should I change my mailing address before closing?
A: Usually yes — but coordinate with your lawyer and mortgage lender first. Use Canada Post forwarding and notify the municipality and utilities.
Q: Who should I notify first when changing my mailing address before closing?
A: Your lawyer/conveyancer and mortgage lender. They handle legal paperwork and payouts.
Q: Will changing my address delay closing?
A: Not if you notify the right parties and confirm acceptance. Delays usually come when documents need reissuing or a lender rejects an address change.
Q: How long should I set Canada Post forwarding for?
A: At least 3 months. If you expect slow municipal or corporate processing, choose 6–12 months.
Q: What happens to property tax bills after closing?
A: Final property tax adjustments are handled in the Statement of Adjustments. Confirm where the Town of Halton Hills will send the final bill.
Q: Do I need to update the buyer with my new mailing address?
A: Yes — give the buyer forwarding details for any stray mail and agree who will collect delivered items briefly after possession.
Q: Can the buyer forward my mail for me?
A: They can, but don’t rely on it. Set up Canada Post forwarding and get confirmations from institutions directly.
Q: What if I change my driver’s license and health card address before closing?
A: Update provincial IDs only after confirming with your lawyer that changing those records won’t conflict with legal requirements. Usually fine, but verify.
Q: What local offices should Georgetown sellers contact about address changes?
A: Town of Halton Hills (property tax office), Halton Region for utilities if applicable, Canada Post, and your condo corporation or property manager.
Final word — act fast, but act smart
Changing your mailing address is a simple move that can turn into a big problem if done without a plan. For Georgetown sellers, the right sequence matters: lawyer and lender first, Canada Post forwarding second, municipality and utilities third. Follow the checklist above, confirm everything in writing, and you’ll close on time without the mail chaos.
If you want a closing-day checklist tailored to your sale in Georgetown, ON, I can help. Contact Tony Sousa, local Georgetown realtor and closing process expert: tony@sousasells.ca | 416-477-2620 | https://www.sousasells.ca
