Moving somewhere new is a mixed bag of emotions – from exciting to nerve-wracking and everything in between. Much of your time in the weeks and months leading up to your impending relocation will be filled with figuring out logistics, packing, and planning. One task that can feel particularly daunting is switching over utilities to your new address. Fortunately, though, this process doesn’t need to be painful. With our simple steps, changing utilities when moving can feel like a breeze!
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Organize your utilities
Start off simple. Making sure you have plenty of time to spare, start compiling a list of all the utilities you will need to switch over. You will likely need to take care of gas, water, electricity, internet and/or cable, and trash. You may also have a security system or a landline phone service to take care of. Depending on your personal situation, you may have any combination of the aforementioned services in your current home. Whatever utilities you have, get all your ducks in a row.
Once you’ve figured out your utility list, it’s best to begin reaching out to your providers and letting them know when you’ll need your services to be disconnected. You may want to have them disconnected the day after your move to ensure the services are available while you’re still at the house. Make sure to give ample notice. By handling everything ahead of time, you save yourself lots of stress and avoid any potential added fees. It’s also a smart idea to have your account numbers and any other pertinent account information at the ready for when you contact the providers.
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Considerations for transferring utilities locally
If you’re moving locally, it’s important to remember that you may simply be able to transfer utilities to a new address. This means switching over utilities is possible, rather than canceling your old account and setting up a new one. If you’re still within the same town, it’s likely that your water and sewer services will remain the same. Look into this information within your municipality to make sure you take the easiest route possible.
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Find your new providers
The next step is to look into who your new providers will be. Although this information will likely be available online (check out your local town or county website), you can also confirm with your realtor or landlord, who will be very familiar with changing utilities when moving. They can provide you with these crucial insights.
It’s important to remember that, if renting, your landlord will likely be the one handling water and trash. Those utilities are probably already registered through the landlord, so that gives you two fewer services to set up. On the other hand, if you aren’t renting, you will still need to take care of water and trash utilities
Otherwise, once you have your new list of service providers, it’s time to set up the utilities at your new place. You can check out their respective websites for any necessary information, and then give them a call to set up your accounts. Request to have these utilities turned on for the day of your move so everything is good to go when you arrive. No one wants to arrive in a dark and cold house just because you didn’t know how to transfer electricity when moving!
It also may be helpful to have any pertinent information emailed to you as a form of receipt from your calls. That way, you’ll have a record of everything with your new providers.
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Do your due diligence
It’s always an option to get everything taken care of and then forget about it, but it definitely isn’t the most responsible way of transferring your utilities. Before moving day, you will want to take a few extra precautionary steps to make sure nothing slips through the cracks.
A few days ahead of your move, ensure everything will go according to plan by contacting your new utility companies and double checking that your utilities will be set up on the day of your move. This prevents any chaotic scenarios on moving day, which will already be jam-packed. Preventing any slip-ups can go a long way in making the process as smooth as possible. You can also reach out to your current service providers and make sure those utilities will be turned off at the right time.
Next, you’ll want to make sure you don’t have any outstanding costs with your providers at your current address before moving. Give your new address to these companies as well, in case they need to contact you after the move with any final bills. Additionally, you may have equipment to return, such as for your internet service provider. Make sure to do this so you don’t receive any unexpected charges. Tying up these loose ends is another step that can make your life a lot less stressful.
Lastly, it’s best practice to have a final meter reading before you move out so you have a record of your usage in case any misunderstandings occur with the various companies who provide your utilities. Being proactive in this way allows you to possess proof of any discrepancies that could come up.
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Transferring utilities with ease
Now that you have a solid idea of the steps you need to take before moving, you can move forward with confidence and prevent yourself from worrying about your utilities. If you’re looking for more help with your upcoming move, discover how Sunrise Moving & Storage can transfer your belongings locally or long distance and turn moving into a stress-free task
