Resources: Moving Checklist

MOVING CHECKLIST

Moving is stressful. We’re here to help make it a little easier with these tips and resources.

Let us be among the first to welcome you to your new home! Whether you’ve relocated to downtown Columbus, a quaint little town outside of the city or somewhere in between, your post-move checklist will probably look the same.

Read on for our tips on your first steps in your new locale and be sure to check out our Resources listings on the previous pages for information on area utilities, service providers and more. Helpful information on school districts, hospitals and other key institutions is listed throughout this guide.

Update Your Address

Make sure all of your financial and professional services, from your car insurance company to your magazine subscriptions, have your new address.

Update your address with the IRS, Social Security Administration and other key agencies.

Get Registered

Get your vehicle registered and, if necessary, obtain an Ohio driver’s license or state ID. Both of these tasks can be completed at your local Bureau of Motor Vehicles office; visit bmv.ohio.gov to find the office nearest you. Local tip: In Ohio, you can get in the BMV line online to save time!

Register to vote! The Ohio Secretary of State’s office has deadline information and a link to register online or request a paper form. Visit olvr.sos. state.oh.us; you’ll need your Ohio driver’s license or state ID number to register online.

Settling In Your Home

Set up your utilities—the area’s primary utilities are AEP Ohio for electric service and Columbia Gas of Ohio—as well as numerous providers for cable and internet.

Replace the locks on your house to ensure no one has a spare key.

Make sure your new home has working fire extinguishers and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Make Connections

Connect to local media by subscribing to area newspapers and magazines.

Register Your Pets

Ohio law requires dogs to be registered with the county auditor’s office upon arrival, acquisition or once it reaches three months old, though some counties require registration by one month of age. One-year licenses generally cost between $10 and $35, depending on the county and the dog’s spay/ neuter status; some counties offer three-year and permanent licenses, too. Cats also need to be licensed in Madison County starting at three months old, but cats and other small house pets do not need to be licensed in the Columbus Region’s 10 other counties. Check your local zoning and codes office for less-common pets, including farm animals—some cities don’t allow backyard chickens, for example. And remember, Ohio law requires dogs to be confined to your personal property or under reasonable control—that is, on a leash—at all times! (Exceptions exist for dog parks and hunting dogs.)