The steps to setting up utilities for your new home may vary depending on where you are moving and the type of home you are moving into, things might get confusing every time you have to do it. Aside from the difference in processes, it’s something that you don’t do often enough to be familiar with the processes and updated regulations.
Even if you’re entrusting your entire move to professional removalists by booking through their website or by visiting their local office, you will have to set up the utilities for your home individually. Hence, it is highly recommended that you start the process of setting up utilities at least three weeks before your scheduled move. This will give you enough time to accomplish the paperwork and other requirements, especially if the utilities must be set up manually.
Here are some of the things you need to do to set up utilities in your new home:
Know the provider for the utilities you need
When it comes to setting up utilities in your new home, the main ones that you need to consider are electricity, gas, water, and internet. If you’re renting, contact your property manager or check your lease for details about your service providers for the property. If you bought a new property, visit the website for your city to gather information about utility providers in the area. Most of the time, you will have one provider option for electricity, water, and gas, and several options for cable and internet.
Reach out to utility companies
Once you have the information about the service providers in your area, it’s time to start reaching out and find out how everything can be set up before your move. Depending on where you’re moving, you may need to transfer your existing utilities or cancel them and have new ones set up in your new residence.
- Set up new services – If it’s a newly built home or your current provider does not service the area you’re moving into, you must visit the website of the provider in your area and get details about how to set up the new service. If the information is not available, you may call or visit their office. You will be asked to provide your home address where the utilities will be set up and the start date for the services.
- Cancel existing service – In the event that your current provider’s services are not available in the location of your new home, you will need to cancel and have them shut down the service. For this, the company will need the address where the service must be shut down and the date for when your account must be closed.
- Transfer utilities – If you’re moving within the same neighbourhood or city, it is likely that you will have the same service provider. In this case, you just need to contact your provider to inform them that you need the service to be transferred to another location or property. They will need your old and new address and the exact date and time when service must be shut down in your old home and turned on in your new residence.
Regardless of the type of service you will avail, service providers will require you to provide payment information (credit card or checking account and routing number). In some cases, service providers ask for a credit check or a security deposit. When possible, ask about the application process and the requirements so you can get the necessary documents before starting the process.
Confirm that the utilities have been turned off/on
There are instances when there are errors in setting up, cancelling, or transferring utilities. Hence, it is highly recommended that you reach out to your service providers to make sure that the service was turned on/off as it was supposed to. This is a good way to make sure that you won’t end up paying for utilities that should have been turned off.
Upon arriving in your new home, check if the electricity and water are running. Internet, cable, and other utilities can wait, but getting the electricity on and the water running is a must. If you encounter any issues, contact your provider immediately. In case the problem was caused by a mistake on their end, your provider can expedite the service and get your utilities up and running immediately.
If you have organised an exit clean and trash collection for your new home, you may also reach out to the service provider after the scheduled cleaning and collection day to verify if the service has been carried out. Checking with every service provider if the task has been completed may sound like too much work, but it will help ensure that you won’t be charged extra for services you didn’t use and that the work you’ve paid for has been completed on time. If you’re renting, it will also avoid issues with property managers and getting your deposit in full after moving out.
