How to Find Previous Addresses for Free
Thomas Fine - April 19, 2024
Searching for a previous address can seem overwhelming at first, especially if you aren’t too sure how to start your search. Fortunately, there are several different methods out there that allow you to browse your own previous addresses or track down the previous address of someone else.
Our article gives you details on why you might want to look up a previous address and the best methods to complete your search. We also go over some key things to keep an eye out for while gathering the address information you need.
Why Look up a Previous Address?
Searching for a previous address is something that all of us have had to do from time to time. Whether it’s because you are submitting a job application or a background check, or because you need to verify someone’s details, there are plenty of reasons to look up a previous address.
Almost any reason you have for searching for a previous address is perfectly legal unless you are trying to find someone’s previous address to conduct or plan an illegal activity. This should be avoided, as you can land in very serious legal trouble and deal with complications and criminal convictions that may affect your future.
Methods to Find a Previous Address for Free
The following methods are some of the best ways to find a previous address for free. You can utilize one or all of these methods to find the previous addresses you need.
Public Property Records
Public property records for your county or town are a great way to look at the history of a certain property and see the purchaser.
Some records offices also let you search by name, so you can find the property history of a certain individual. Doing this will let you see the previous addresses that may have been in someone’s possession, and you can start to narrow down the previous addresses that you need to find.
Tax Forms
When you are searching for your own previous addresses, you can utilize your tax forms. Every tax return you file should have an information section at the top where you can put your name, address, and the year that the return is being filed for.
By looking through your old tax forms, you can determine which years you lived at which addresses. This is vital if you are gathering previous addresses for a job application or background check.
Credit Reports
Credit reports and your overall credit history may also be a good resource when you are searching for your own previous addresses.
Typically, your credit report will have an information or account section if you view your report with an online service. You can browse through the addresses saved in this section to see when you lived at certain previous addresses.
Internet Searches
Internet searches are a popular way to find the previous addresses of other people, as these addresses may sometimes be publicly available. You can use an internet browser such as Google to type in the name of the person you are looking for, and then review the search results located on the first page.
Keep in mind that the further back in pages you go for an internet search, the less likely the search is to be accurate to what you are looking for.
You may also want to try out free people finder search tools or public record lookups, as most addresses end up on the public record.
Social Media Searches
Social media searches may not provide you with an exact previous address for someone. However, they can help you narrow down someone’s location and their estimated address, further guiding your search.
Social media searches can be done through LinkedIn, Facebook, or other social media websites. You can generally search by name, location, place of employment, or school to narrow down your search.
Make sure to keep in mind that when using some types of social media websites, you will need to be ‘friends’ or otherwise directly connected with the individual you are searching for. Other websites may show the person in question that you viewed their profile. So, if you are trying to keep your previous address search subtle, then you may not want to use this particular method.
Mutual Friends and Family
Searching for the previous address of someone can be as easy as speaking with mutual friends and family to track down the information you need. Many times, the previous addresses you are searching for will be saved by other individuals in your family or social circle, and all it takes is a little questioning to find this information.
However, if you do speak to mutual friends and family, you can assume that your questioning about someone’s previous addresses might get back to them. So, take precautions if you don’t want the individual you are searching for to know about your search.
Red Flags to Look out for When Searching Previous Addresses
Finding someone’s previous address can be a lengthy process, and you should also be wary during your search, especially if you are exclusively using internet searches.
There are some websites and people finding tools that are designed with the intention of simply stealing personal information or credit card and banking details. So, you should know what to look out for that could indicate a website is suspicious or a scam.
Red flags to keep an eye out for when searching previous addresses include:
- Websites that are poorly designed, those that have spelling errors, or those that appear AI-generated
- Websites with text or copy that does not use proper English grammar or appears strange
- Websites that use urgency to try and get you to enter your credit card or banking information
- Demands for personal information such as your social security number
- Websites or search tools that charge large prices and huge fees for the information you are searching for
When in doubt about a website’s legitimacy, you can leave the website and use a different search method from our article to find the address information you need to know.
Finding the Address Information You Need
Understanding how to find previous addresses isn’t the hardest thing to do, fortunately, but it may take some patience and careful searching using the methods in our article. Make sure to try all of the methods if you are having trouble with one, and always be aware of red flags that may indicate you need to take your search elsewhere.
