How Does Moving House Affect Your Credit Rating?

You are relocating to a new home and starting a new chapter of your life. The move as such might be stressful, but once you have settled in and gotten comfortable, you probably consider it worth the effort. So far, so good. But does moving house affect your credit rating? And if the answer is yes – how?

Does moving house affect your credit rating at all?

Yes, but also no. Unfortunately, there’s no clear-cut answer; it all depends on your situation and how you approach the moving process.

Sure, a simple change of address as such does NOT affect your creditworthiness, but other factors might play a role. 

Again, it depends on the circumstances.

Let’s have a look at what could make a difference in your credit score.

Which aspects of moving could impact your credit?

There are several aspects to think about during the move process that could affect your credit score, both positively and negatively. By understanding these points, you can ensure you’re doing everything you can to have the best outcome for you and your finances.

Applying for Credit

No matter what you’re doing in life, if you’re applying for credit or even just getting a quote, this can affect your credit score. Even the mortgage you’re taking out will affect your score. 

This is not necessarily a bad thing, as taking out credit and then responsibly paying it back is one of the best ways to build a better credit score. 

However, if you’re taking out multiple forms of credit simultaneously or have trouble keeping up with payments, you can find your score is seriously affected and can take years to recover.

Moving costs

Even if you operate within a modest budget, moving to a new home does cost a certain amount of money. 

If you cover any of these costs out of your checking or savings account, it does not change your credit score. 

On the other hand, if you pay it with your credit card instead, it changes the utilization rate of your credit card(s), which directly impacts your credit score.

Tips for Managing Your Credit Score During a Move

So, how can you take control of your finances during your move to ensure your credit score’s integrity is maintained? 

Here are some important tips you need to know.

• Check the cost of living in your new home. Always take time to see how much things will cost in your new home and your expenses. This is to ensure you can comfortably keep up with your repayments to maintain a healthy credit score.
• Use a tool to track your credit score. To get an accurate idea of your credit score and how you want to make it better based on your personal circumstances, use an online tool like Experian or Clearscore. These will tell you exactly what condition your accounts are in and can provide recommendations for improvements.
• Update your contact information. To ensure you don’t miss a payment and that your credit score is correct, always ensure your new address and contact information are updated across all your accounts and credit providers. This ensures you never miss any communications and that the data’s correct. 
• Make sure your credit is ready before you move. Whether you’re planning to buy or rent, take time to make sure your credit is as good as it can be. This way, you’ll get the best deals and interest rates, making the credit more affordable and less likely to cause issues.

Summary

As you can see, while moving and changing your registered address doesn’t directly impact your credit score, there are a few considerations to think about during the process that can.

To ensure your credit score and financial situation remain healthy, it’s always best to be proactive, making sure you can always afford your payments and don’t take out and use too many lines of credit at once.

Meanwhile, when it comes to moving to a new home, there is another important aspect to consider – the moving company you are going to hire to ensure the transition goes as smoothly as possible. Therefore, if you are planning to move within the Tampa or Riverview area: Contact us for your free estimate!

Sources and further reading:

• https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/credit-score/moving-hurt-credit-score
• https://help.creditclub.com/hc/en-us/articles/115015605327-Why-has-my-Experian-Credit-Score-dropped-since-moving-house-
• https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/updating-the-mailing-address-on-your-credit-report/
• https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/is-now-a-good-time-to-move/
• https://support.creditkarma.com/s/article/What-happens-to-my-credit-scores-after-an-eviction