Resident List Updating – A Dynamic and Active Process

Like all mailing list databases, the resident list (res/occ list) is a dynamic list of addresses that is changing daily. New construction is taking place and new homes and businesses are being added to the list. Homes and businesses are being vacated or reoccupied and the vacancy flag on resident list addresses is being updated. The US Postal Service is constantly reorganizing and realigning the 200,000+ carrier routes that exist within their distribution system. Thus, addresses are moving out of one route and into another route. Individual postal carriers make changes to the way they walk their route and deliver the mail each day. This activity requires changes to the walk sequence identifier that exists on each resident list address. And finally, buildings are torn down and these addresses are removed from the resident list. In most cases this happens on a one-off, random basis and other times the elimination of addresses is more dramatic, think Hurricane Katrina.

The US Postal Service provides updates to the resident list on a weekly basis to CDS (Computerized Delivery Sequence) qualified companies who own and maintain a resident list. To insure the best results, response rates, and ROI for your direct mail campaign, make sure you are using a resident list that is current and updated. That way you will reach all the deliverable addresses in your targeted geography. These addresses will be directed to the correct US Postal Service carrier route and the walk sequence will be accurate so that you qualify for the lowest postage rates possible.

Do not under estimate the importance of using a resident list that is current and updated.

Take a look at resident list counts by zip code and carrier route by downloading free count reports.

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