Should I change my address before or after closing?
Change Address Before or After Closing? The One Move That Will Make Your Closing Day Easy
Quick answer — do this now
Change your mailing address for banks, Canada Post, government and subscriptions before you move. Update your legal address and utility accounts tied to the property to reflect the closing/possession date — not earlier. In short: set up mail forwarding and notify key contacts early, but switch legal and property-related accounts at closing.
Why I’m blunt about this
You sell a house in Georgetown and you want two things: zero surprises on closing day and no bills, calls, or liability after you leave. Do the right things at the right time. Do them once. That’s how you save time and avoid money leaks.
The simple rule every Georgetown home seller should follow
- Keep property accounts (utilities, municipal tax, homeowner’s insurance) active and in your name until closing or until your lawyer instructs a change.
- Notify Canada Post, banks, CRA, ServiceOntario, and personal subscriptions before you move. Start forwarding mail now.
- Give your lawyer/notary your new address as soon as it’s final so closing documents and final statements go to the right place.
Why this order? Because the difference between a smooth closing and a costly mess is timing. Miss one update and you’re paying a final bill twice, missing critical tax info, or losing important documents.
Georgetown-specific things you must know
Georgetown is in the Town of Halton Hills and in the Region of Halton. That means multiple municipal and regional offices might contact you about property taxes, utility adjustments, and final assessments. Local service providers and contractors in Georgetown often bill by address. If they send final bills to the old address, you’ll chase payments and receipts.
Local considerations:
- Town of Halton Hills property tax office sends notices and final bills tied to the property and your mailing address. Confirm where final tax notices will be sent.
- Utilities in Halton Region may include local hydro and water accounts. Confirm final meter reads and the date the utility account transfers.
- If you rent a dumpster or movers in Georgetown, include the exact possession date in contracts.
If you sell to an investor or the buyer requests early possession, make sure your mail forwarding and legal address updates reflect the early move-out timing.
The biggest mistakes sellers make (and how to avoid them)
- Changing everything too early
- Problem: Utilities or homeowner insurance switched off before the buyer takes possession. Buyer shows up with no heat, no hot water, and you hear from your lawyer.
- Fix: Keep utilities and insurance active until closing or confirm transfer details with the buyer.
- Not giving your lawyer a forwarding address
- Problem: Final statements, discharge letters, or surplus funds sent to the wrong place.
- Fix: Give your lawyer the new address and an alternate email/phone.
- Forgetting CRA and ServiceOntario
- Problem: CRA mailing your notice of assessment to an old address. Health cards or driver’s licence not updated within required windows.
- Fix: Update CRA and ServiceOntario within the required timelines (CRA: within 14 days of moving). Use their online portals for quick updates.
- Relying only on postal forwarding
- Problem: Canada Post forwarding misses courier deliveries or government documents sent by registered mail.
- Fix: Notify banks, mortgage lender, insurance provider, and government agencies directly.
Actionable timeline: what to change and when
Follow this checklist to avoid headaches. Adjust times to your closing date.
4+ weeks before closing
- Book movers and schedule closing and possession date in writing.
- Start Canada Post mail forwarding (you can start forwarding early). This captures most regular mail.
- Tell major banks and credit card companies that you’re moving and provide a tentative new address.
- Inform ServiceOntario if your move will affect your driver’s licence or health card details.
2 weeks before closing
- Confirm final meter-read dates with utility companies and maintain service through the possession date.
- Contact your homeowner’s insurance to change or cancel coverage effective at possession or closing. Don’t cancel early.
- Tell your mortgage lender and request payoff instructions through your lawyer/notary.
Week of closing
- Provide your lawyer and real estate agent your confirmed new address and best contact method.
- Confirm where final closing documents and any surplus funds will be sent.
- Transfer subscriptions and online shopping addresses where necessary.
Day of closing
- Keep phone and email active for lawyer contact.
- If you have keys or garage openers, leave them as agreed.
24–72 hours after closing
- Verify utilities under buyer’s name and confirm there are no lingering charges in your account.
- Confirm lawyer sent mortgage discharge and any cheques to your new address.
- Follow up with Canada Post to ensure mail forwarding is working.
Within 14 days after moving
- Update CRA, ServiceOntario, and other government agencies. In Canada, CRA requires address updates promptly.
Who to notify — the priority list
- Lawyer/notary handling closing — critical
- Canada Post — mail forwarding
- Banks and mortgage lender
- Homeowner’s insurance
- Utility companies (hydro, gas, water, internet) — final reads and confirm transfer date
- Town of Halton Hills (property tax office) and Region of Halton (if applicable)
- CRA and ServiceOntario
- Subscriptions, employer, schools, health providers
Sample quick email to your lawyer (copy/paste)
Hi [Lawyer Name],
My possession/closing date is [YYYY-MM-DD]. My new address for forwarding and final statements is:
[New Address]
Please send all final statements, surplus funds, and documents to this address and to my email [your.email@example.com]. Confirm you have the address on file.
Thanks,
[Your Name]
Insurance and liability — don’t guess
Homeowner’s insurance should stay active through the possession date or until the buyer accepts possession. If you cancel early and damage occurs, you might be on the hook. Coordinate cancellation or transfer with your insurer and the buyer’s closing date.
If you move out before closing (vacant possession earlier)
Sometimes buyers ask for early possession. If you leave early, leave forwarding instructions, and keep utilities on until the official possession date ordered in your Agreement of Purchase and Sale. Confirm who pays for utilities during that interim period.
Digital vs. legal address — treat them differently
- Digital address changes (shopping, streaming, subscriptions): change early so deliveries and services don’t fail.
- Legal address changes (banks, governmental bodies, lawyer): change where required by law or contract at closing.
Final, simple rule again
Set up mail forwarding and notify personal contacts early. Delay switching property-tied services and legal addresses until closing or possession date. Give your lawyer the new address now.
Why this works for Georgetown sellers
Georgetown’s mix of municipal and regional billing, local contractors, and strong resale demand means paperwork arrives fast and decisions have tight windows. Get the timing right and you avoid double billing, missed tax notices, and legal snags. Be proactive, keep a tight timeline, and align all parties around the possession date.
Want help making this headache-free?
If you want a local expert to line this up for you — from property tax clarity to utility transfers and final statements — contact Tony Sousa, Local Realtor and Georgetown market expert. He’ll connect you with experienced lawyers and local utilities to ensure closing day is clean.
Contact:
- Email: tony@sousasells.ca
- Phone: 416-477-2620
- Website: https://www.sousasells.ca
FAQ — Quick answers home sellers in Georgetown search for
Q: Should I change my address before closing?
A: Change personal and mailing addresses early (Canada Post, banks, subscriptions). Keep property accounts and legal address changes aligned with closing and possession.
Q: When should I notify the Town of Halton Hills about my sale?
A: Notify them as soon as sale terms are final so they can send final tax notices correctly. Also confirm where the final tax notice will be mailed.
Q: Do I need to keep utilities on until possession?
A: Yes. Keep utilities and insurance active through possession or until the lawyer confirms transfer to the buyer.
Q: How do I update CRA and ServiceOntario?
A: Use the CRA My Account portal or call CRA. For ServiceOntario, use their online services for driver’s licence and health card updates. Both should be updated promptly after moving.
Q: What if the buyer asks for early possession?
A: Have it in writing. Clarify who pays utilities and ensure insurance covers the interim. Update mail forwarding immediately.
Q: Who should I give my new address to first?
A: Your lawyer/notary and Canada Post. Then banks, insurance, and CRA.
Q: Can I forward mail permanently?
A: Canada Post offers temporary forwarding. For permanent changes, update each business and government agency directly.
Q: Will changing my address affect closing documents?
A: The lawyer needs the correct mailing address for final statements and cheques. Provide it early to avoid delays.
Q: Can I get help with this process locally?
A: Yes. A local realtor or closing coordinator can manage communications with the Town of Halton Hills, utility companies, and lawyers to make sure dates align.
If you want a step-by-step checklist tailored to your closing date in Georgetown, email tony@sousasells.ca or call 416-477-2620. He’ll walk you through exactly what to change and when so closing day is clean, fast, and predictable.
