You’ve found the house of your dreams. You’ve hired the top residential movers in Austin to help with your move. But before you can start your new life, you need to set up utilities.
Setting up utilities for a new house is an important part of ensuring your new residence is move-in ready from the minute you get the keys. We’ll break down the process for you so you’re ready to enjoy your new home the second you unlock the front door.
Why Utility Setup Matters
Unless you’re renting an apartment where all of the utilities might be included in your monthly bill, you’ll need to set up your own before you move. Services like electricity, water, sewer, natural gas, and trash pickup don’t just start the minute you get the keys.
If you don’t put the utilities under your name before you start using them, the providers may cut off your service with no warning. They may also charge you administrative fees in addition to setup fees to turn them back on.
Utilities To Arrange
If this is your first time moving and setting up your utilities, you may wonder, "What utilities do I need?”
The specific utilities you need to arrange depend on where you’re moving, but generally, your utility setup checklist should include:
Electricity
Water
Sewer (if you don’t have a septic tank)
Natural Gas
Trash/recycling pickup
Internet (not a classic utility, but increasingly referred to as such due to the surge in telecommuting)
If you plan to have TV or landline phone service, you’ll want to schedule those services as well.
You may find that some of these services are included or not required. For example, an apartment may include water and sewer in the rent, or a more recently built home may not have a natural gas connection, relying instead on electricity or alternative methods for heating or hot water.
Some utilities may also be provided through the city or municipality as a single bill. Cities may arrange electric, water, trash, or internet service through their own provider, netting residents discounts. Check on these possibilities before setting up your own utilities.
When To Set Up Each Service
When setting up utilities for a new house, keep in mind that you can typically schedule the first day of service well in advance, so you don't have to rush to transfer service or open a new account the morning of your move.
In fact, waiting until the last minute may lead to extremely inconvenient and expensive problems. Generally, you want the utilities to be active and in your name on the day you get your keys.
Try to start the setup process at least two or three weeks before your anticipated move. This ensures you won’t incur any last-minute transfer or cancellation fees, and you won’t face delays if new utilities require installation or activation before your move.
How To Transfer vs. Start New Accounts
If you’re not moving to another state or city, you may already have some utility accounts that you can simply transfer over to your new address. In many of those cases, you’ll be able to initiate a transfer through an online account or customer portal. For others, you may need to call the utility’s customer service phone line to transfer your services.
If you don’t have a current utility provider, the provider you currently use is unavailable in your new neighborhood, or you simply want to switch service providers, you’ll need to set up a new account. Some providers allow you to open a new account online and may even offer new customer discounts or other incentives for doing so. Others require a phone call or an in-person visit to set up a new service.
Info You’ll Need to Set Up Utilities
An important part of knowing how to set up utilities is identifying and gathering the right information before you begin the process.
Your future service provider may ask for:
Your full name
Your social security number
Your date of birth
A copy of your driver’s license or ID
Your current contact information (phone number, email)
The address of your new home
The date of your move
Your payment method
Employment information or income verification
Your current address (for communication prior to your move)
Transferring an existing utility account generally requires less information, since the provider already has most of it. To transfer service, you’ll probably need:
Your current account number
Your new address
The date of your move
The current provider may also ask for a copy of your ID or other identity verification to protect your account.
Get Help With Your Austin Move
Once you set up utilities for your move, get help with everything else by working with the top moving company in Austin, MASH Movers. Our team makes moving easy and stress-free so you can concentrate on making your new space a home.
Our staff loves the city and wants to make it a beautiful—and welcoming—place for everyone. We’d love to be your friendly Austin moving services company. Contact us for a free quote on your next relocation!