Setting up utilities upon relocating to your new home is absolutely crucial. However, you can’t wait to do this task after you’ve moved it. Indeed, after arriving at your new home, you want running water, electricity, Internet, heat, and other utilities. This is why planning ahead is essential if you wish to have all your utilities when moving into a new home. Therefore, here are some tips our team at Verified Movers has prepared for anyone who wishes to find out how to set up utilities when buying a house, so let’s jump into it.
What do you need to consider before setting up utilities?
One of the first questions to ask yourself before moving is what utilities will you need in your new home. Typically, most homeowners opt for setting up water, electricity, natural gas, sewer, trash and recycling pickup, Internet, cable, and home security. So, you first need to make a checklist of all the utilities you will need. This will make the task of setting them one by one much more manageable. Plus, you will ensure nothing is forgotten.
Things to do in order to set up utilities when buying a house
After determining what utilities you need in your new home, it would be best to decide which ones are a priority. Tackling the setting up of all utilities at once may prove to be quite challenging. Therefore, determine what utilities you will need on the first day in your new home. For example, if you are relocating in summer, you won’t need to set up heating before the move.
Once you have finished that, it’s time to move on to the next step. In order to efficiently set up utilities when buying a house you will need to complete the following tasks:
- Research new providers – It would be best to see whether there is a choice of providers for certain utilities before you set up utilities when buying a house.
- Set up the accounts in advance – By scheduling a date for your new utility provider to come and install everything, you will make things much more manageable and stress-free.
- Cancel on your current providers – Make sure you cancel your old accounts with the previous utility provider companies. You certainly don’t want them to continue to send you bills after you’ve moved.
- Update your address – Ensure both your old and new utility providers have the new address to reach you.
Researching new utility providers
Setting up utilities may be new to those moving from an apartment to a house. You might not be familiar with how to do this, and you may be wondering why it is even necessary to find new utility providers. The truth is, you don’t have to change them if you are moving close to your old home. It would be best to contact them and check whether they provide services to the new area you are moving to. However, if you are relocating long distance and changing states, finding new utility-providing companies is absolutely necessary.
For some utilities like water or electricity, you might not have a lot of options. In smaller cities, there is usually only one provider. But, for the Internet or cable, you might have a lot of options when it comes to finding providers. Take the time to do the research and find the most suitable providers for you.
Setting up an account with a new company
After you pick out your new providers, it would be best to contact them immediately. Let them know when you will be moving in. It would be best to schedule installation services one day before you move into your new home. That way, you will give the providers plenty of time to prepare everything for your arrival.
Don’t forget to cancel old accounts
It would be best to let your old providers know you are moving at least two weeks in advance. However, you shouldn’t cancel utilities then, nor on your moving day. That would actually be one of the mistakes to avoid on moving day. It would be best to schedule shutting the utilities off at least two days after you have moved out. This slight overlap will allow you to be prepared if you need to return home in case you forgot something or your moving date was rescheduled.
Update you address
Finally, you will need to set up a forwarding address. You can do this at the post office. That way, you can avoid your final bills arriving at the wrong address. It can also come in handy if the bills from your old providers continue arriving after cancellation. You’ll know immediately that something is wrong and will be able to react.
Final words on how to set up utilities when buying a house
Hopefully, after reading this article, you will know exactly how to set up utilities when buying a house. Make sure to follow our advice, and everything will go smoothly and according to plan. Don’t forget to research new providers and see whether you have multiple choices. That way, you can save money on utilities. Furthermore, don’t forget to set up an installation date with your new utility providers. Ensure you also cancel any accounts with your old utility providers and entrust them with your new address. By doing that, you will be able to react immediately if something is wrong.