Sort advertising during the first week in a new home
In the first week at a new home, the mailbox fills with advertising addressed to several different people. Sorting it by name shows which pieces are yours to act on and keeps you from handling mail that belongs to someone else.
How to sort the first week of mail
- Make three piles: mail addressed to you, mail addressed to former residents, and mail with no name or with a label such as Current Resident or Occupant.
- Leave former-resident mail unopened and set it aside. Our guide at stop junk mail for previous resident guide covers your options for that pile.
- From your own pile, pull out order confirmations, bank or utility statements, and government documents. Those may need a response. What remains is advertising and catalogs.
- Photograph each advertising piece separately so the full mailing label and the sender name are readable. Review the details Junk Mail Magic prepares, sign in, and submit each photo as its own removal request.
What to do with no-name and occupant mail
Read the addressee before deciding what to do. Mail addressed to a previous resident needs the previous-resident instructions below. For a piece addressed to Current Resident or Occupant, use the guide to that type of delivery; an area-wide mailing may have a different removal route. Set aside anything whose sender or addressee is unclear.
After the first week
For longer-term options, read the main junk mail guide. Terms are at the pricing page. Keep in mind that bills, medical records, financial documents, and mail addressed to other people should never be photographed or submitted.
Instructions for the next step
Have an unwanted advertisement ready?
Photograph one piece you are authorized to handle, with the sender and full mailing label visible. Review the details before submitting. The first request is free; the sender controls the response.
Try one request free