Moving soon? Don’t forget to transfer those utilities! While certainly not the most fun task, it’s undoubtedly one of the most important. After all, who wants to spend the first night (or first week!) in their new home without hot water, electricity or internet? Not us. For these reasons, it’s absolutely necessary that you contact your utility service providers prior to moving to schedule a transfer or installation date. Not sure how to get started on setting up your utilities? Before you begin packing boxes, take a look at these 8 simple tips for transferring your utilities in your new home.
Get organized
First thing’s first: before you move, familiarize yourself with all of your current utility service providers. Utilities usually include cable and internet, water and sewer, gas, electricity, satellite, security system, trash and phone. I recommend making a note of these monthly service providers by writing their phone number and contact information on one general list. If you’re planning on changing providers when you move, be sure to write down any new contact information.Notify utilities of your move a few weeks in advance
Once you’ve organized all of your utilities information, you’ll need to start contacting each provider separately to let them know that you’re moving. I recommend contacting most providers at least two weeks in advance. For utility services that require an installation appointment, it’s a good idea to call a month in advance. These usually include cable and internet services, as well as security system providers, such as ADT. When scheduling your disconnect and connect dates for gas and electric, consider making the disconnect date a day or two after you move. This way the lights and HVAC will still be working, just in case you need to get back inside your former home to pick up anything left behind. If you live near your new home, consider scheduling your gas and electric connect for the day before your move. This way you can go ahead and turn on the AC or heat, if moving in extreme weather.Arrange your water and sewer service through the city
When it comes to water and sewer services, these will most likely be handled through your new city or town. Arrange for the service to begin on moving day by contacting your city’s public utilities office a few weeks prior to the move.Check if the HOA covers utilities
Moving to a community with an HOA (homeowners’ association)? If so, your HOA fees may cover basic utilities including water and sewer, gas and trash pickup. Paying one monthly bill to the HOA, instead of 5 separate bills to various utility companies, will certainly make paying monthly bills an easier and more seamless experience.Update your address
When calling the utility service providers, be sure to provide them with your new address. This way, you’ll be sure to receive any and all future bills. Of course, it’s also a good idea to change your mailing address with USPS. By going to USPS.com, you can easily select the date that you wish to begin forwarding your mail.Pay overdue bills before moving
Whatever you do, don’t forget to pay any overdue bills before moving. When calling the utility service providers, simply ask whether or not you currently owe anything. If so, be sure to pay off these outstanding balances before moving, as these could potentially hurt your credit score. Paying off balances also means a clean slate and a fresh start in your new home.Do a final meter reading
Before moving, have your utility service providers come to your house and conduct a final reading of the gas, electric and water meters. Just in case you receive any unexpected bills after moving, keep a copy of the meter reading reports for your records.Conduct a home energy audit of your new home
Finally, once you’ve moved into your new home, I recommend scheduling for a technician to come and perform a home energy audit. This audit will let you know if you need to improve the insulation, ductwork or furnace in your new house. Essentially, it informs a homeowner how and where the air is leaking into the house. Nationwide Insurance suggests sealing air leaks by either placing a sweep at the base of outside doors or by applying caulk around the drafty windows.
Other important tasks to complete before moving
Besides transferring and setting up your utilities, there are plenty of other tasks to complete prior to moving. Important to-dos on your moving checklist should also include:
- Schedule movers – A few months before your move, start researching moving companies in the area. Make sure these moving companies are licensed and insured. You should also check for reviews and for the company’s complaint history via the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Moving.com’s directory and the FMCSA’s lookup system. Additionally, a reputable and reliable moving company should provide you with either an in-person estimate or video estimate of the move’s cost.
- Sell and donate belongings – The less you move, the better. Not only will your move be much cheaper, but it will also save you time when it comes to packing and unpacking your house. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to get rid of outdated furniture, useless knick-knacks and unnecessary belongings. First, you can start by donating items to your local Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity and Goodwill. These organizations also offer free pickup services for donations as well. Be sure to save your receipts for the upcoming tax season, as you may be able to deduct a portion of the value of these donations against your income tax. Second, you can sell items through various online marketplaces, such as Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, Craigslist or eBay. Other options include selling your belongings via the LetGo, Gone and OfferUp mobile apps. Finally, if you’re looking for ways to empty your pantry before you move, consider using a Move for Hunger partner moving company. These moving companies will pick up and pack all of your unwanted canned goods, and deliver them to local food banks.
- Gather moving boxes and supplies – I suggest gathering all moving boxes and supplies well before the move. To purchase necessary supplies, head to Moving.com’s Box Center for coupons and discounts from UBoxes.com and UsedCardboardBoxes.com. Looking for free supplies? Head to local bookstores, liquor stores, big box retailers, schools and recycling drop-off points to find used cardboard boxes. You may also be able to find free moving supplies on various online marketplaces including Craigslist, Freecycle and Facebook Marketplace.
- Pack – Finally, it’s time to pack! After gathering supplies, start the packing process by boxing up items that you won’t be needing in the immediate future. Non-essentials may include seasonal clothing, books, picture frames, art and other home decor. Box up your essentials last, as you’ll be needing these a week before your move. These include kitchen items, important documents, and pet supplies. Also, don’t forget to pack an overnight bag of essentials for your first night in the new home. Pajamas, toothbrushes, and other toiletries are a must.
Ready to move?
Moving.com’s extensive network of reputable and reliable movers makes it easy to find and book the best moving company for the job. All relocation companies in our network are licensed and insured, so you can rest assured that your move will be in good hands. Best of luck and happy moving!
