How to protect your personal information while moving house

Moving house is a long and daunting process that requires a lot of planning, organizing, and patience. A lot of things should be done, from finding a reliable moving company, packing, to the relocation itself. Although you mainly focus on packing boxes, you shouldn’t forget that you are also moving your personal data. There’s a lot of paperwork to handle, no matter if you bought the property or you’re moving into a rented house. However, keep in mind that relocation is the perfect timing for thieves to steal your personal information. To reduce the risks of having your sensitive data stolen, take precautions. The first step to protect your personal information while moving is to find a trustworthy moving company, whom you can entrust your data. And moving companies Miami are a great choice. However, there are many other steps to protect your info. Read on to find out more.

Why is your personal information subjected to theft while moving?

Why do identity thieves usually target the ones that are moving house? Well, the answer is simple. Your personal information is particularly vulnerable during the move since your data constantly shifts from one address to another. That means that your info is easily accessible. How? Many service providers have access to your data, so the chances of information leaking are great. However, this does not necessarily mean that official providers steal the data. But, it means that hackers have various ways to get your info into possession since the information is shared with many different users. That is why you need to take some precautions. Following are some suggestions on how to protect your personal information before, during, and after the move.

A list of documents that you need to protect

Before we move on to the tips and tricks to protect your personal information while moving, let’s enlist the documents that you’ll need for the relocation. Basically, when you are moving house, you need every document possible. However, there are some documents you can shred. Here’s the list of the most important ones:

• Identification documents (passports, IDs, driver’s licenses, birth and marriage certificates, bank cards, etc.)
• Medical records for you and your family
• Insurance records
• Vet records for pets
• School records
• Social security cards
• Vehicles records (vehicle registration, buying contact, etc.)
• Lease or homeowners insurance policy
• A visa for international relocation
• Work permits
• Tax records
• Power of attorney, etc.

That’s for your personal documentation. For relocation paperwork, your local movers Florida will provide you with everything.

Before the move

When moving house, you need to update your information and inform important contacts about your relocation. If you don’t, you are leaving your information vulnerable, and you are prone to the risk of identity theft. So, make a list of everyone you need to contact before the move. Start from the post office. Inform them that you are going to change the address at least a week prior to your move so they can redirect your mail. This way, you’ll protect your mail and its sensitive data from falling into the hands of thieves. Then, notify your banks, credit card companies, and other financial institutions. After that, inform your utility companies that you are going to move to ensure your bills get to the right address, and to avoid doubling the bills.

After you prepare the necessary documents, find a reliable moving company to take care of your relocation. How is this important in terms of protecting your personal information? Well, when you are moving house, you need to provide various personal details, so it’s important to keep them safe from any misuse. That’s why you need to hire a trustworthy moving company. With movers Pompano Beach FL you can be sure that your personal information will be kept private and used only for relocation purposes.

Protect your personal information by hiring a shredding company to destroy the documents you no longer need

If you have any documents with personal information, such as contracts, old bank cards, or statements you no longer need, make sure to destroy them. However, don’t just tear them off and throw them away since someone could easily put the pieces back together. Instead, contact a shredding company to shred and destroy the documents properly.

How to pack the original documents before the move

After you’ve made sure that your personal information is safe, it’s time to pack the original documents. Put them in a file and protect them from any damage. Always have them at hand and keep them separate from other items. On the other hand, when it comes to your electronic devices, you can also move them with you or with other belongings. However, if you want to load them in the truck, make sure you shut them down and protect them with a strong password. Besides that, pack your laptops properly to avoid damage. Improver handling can also lead to data loss. If you are not sure how to pack your laptops, tablets, and other devices, use professional packing services. This way, your devices will be fully protected.

Protect your personal information while moving

To keep an eye on your documents and other papers, you should remember they are the last to load into a moving truck and the first to unload. Also, do not leave them unsupervised during the loading and unloading. If you cannot supervise it personally, entrust this task to a person whom you trust completely. Also, you can rely on your movers to take care of your personal information box.

After the move

Setting in a new home doesn’t mean you don’t need to protect your personal information anymore. Quite the opposite. Check all your changed information and verify that your mail does not come to your old address. Also, check your bank reports online to make sure no fraudulent accounts have been made. Then, update and change all your passwords on all your accounts. Check where you’re logged in, and sign out from suspicious devices. And finally, use two-factor authentication.

Moving soon? Contact Pro Movers Miami and get your free estimate

When moving, whether locally or long distances, choosing the right moving company is half the work done. Contact us today, get a free estimate and see why Pro Movers Miami is the best choice. We provide all kinds of services, such as local moving, long-distance moving, packing and storage services, as well as emergency moving. Most importantly, we provide moving insurance. Protect your personal information while moving with us by your side.