Setting up utilities in your new home is as important as any other part of moving. Whether you are renting your new property or have purchased it, you need to get utilities ready before the moving date. Doing so will help you get settled faster and with much ease.
To help you streamline the process, we’ve put together a quick overview of the steps you can follow to set up the utilities in your new home.
Types Of Utilities
Depending on the location of your new home, there are five basic utilities. You may be required to take care of all of them or a selected few. They include:
- Water and sewer
- Gas
- Electricity
- Trash pickup and recycling
- Cable and internet
How To Set Up Utilities When Moving Into A New Home
It is advisable to start the process of setting up utilities at least three weeks before the moving date. Some utilities require more time to set up than others, so it is advisable to cater to each of them individually. Giving notice to your utility providers early enough allows them to provide good services, especially if they need to carry out a manual service set up at your new home.
Below are the steps you need to take to set up utilities so that your new home is ready when you move in.
1. Determine Your Utility Providers
Your new home’s utility providers may differ from those that served you in your last home. Different cities, management/landlord companies, neighbourhoods, and apartment buildings may have different provider requirements. Moreover, some utility companies only serve certain areas.
If you are moving to a newly owned property, check your county or city website for information on the available utility providers. If your new space is rented, consult your landlord or check your lease. In most cases, you will have multiple provider options for internet and cable but a single provider for natural gas, electricity, sewer and water.
2. Contact Your New Utility Service
Now that you have determined your potential utility providers, it is time to get in touch. You are required to either transfer your current utilities or cancel them to allow for setting up new ones.
You should then visit the website of your new utility providers and set up your accounts. Alternatively, you can call them for registration. The service companies may also ask for your payment information at this point. Most payments are made through a checking account or credit card and a routing number.
Ensure to make important queries on issues such as whether or not you need to be present during installation, how long the set-up will take, additional activation fees and whether the utilities will be running by the time you move into your new home.
3. Check That The Utilities Were Turned On/off Successfully
It is possible to make errors when cancelling, transferring or setting up utilities. Therefore, it is vital to verify that everything went as planned. Check to ensure utilities such as electricity and water were successfully turned on in your new home. Contact your service provider in case of any errors or malfunctions.
Double-check your account to ensure that cancelled utilities were successfully shut off. Doing so will prevent you from incurring any additional bills you weren’t anticipating.
Making Sense Of Utility Bills
Some utility providers will charge an extra fee for processing and setting up the new service, while others have a transfer fee. You should also expect a final bill for shut off utilities. Usage charges should only apply until the day of your scheduled cancellation. Ensure to follow these steps even if you set up automatic payments.
Are you planning on moving soon? Brisbane Moving & Storage offers home removal and moving services to ensure a smooth transition into your new home. Our services cover both local and inter-state moves. Contact us on admin@brisbanemoving.com for bookings or queries.
