When To Set Up Utilities When Buying A House

Buying a new home is a monumental decision that involves many moving parts. The good news is that once all is said and done, you will have the keys to your future dreams placed in your hand. But there are many boxes to check between the day you close on your home and the day you move into it. One important step between these two moments is getting in touch with all your utility companies and making sure everything is set up when you move in.

The first step to setting up utilities after buying a home is knowing your utility providers. Next, one month in advance of moving in, find out exactly who your utility providers are. Two weeks before you move in, call your utility companies to set up accounts and establish when you need service. Lastly, a day before you move in, double-check that all utilities have been turned on.

Setting up all your utilities and setting up new accounts can be a pretty involved project when you are also juggling other home-owner tasks. The best way to approach setting up utilities in the home you recently purchased is to break it up into phases. Begin with the easiest part, which is finding out what type of energy and services your home uses. After that, you can move on to contacting the companies and slowly getting all your affairs in order in time for the move-in date.

Many homes use natural gas. Natural gas can be used for your range, hot water, heat, and even a decorative fireplace. If your home uses natural gas you will need to establish an account with your local natural gas provider.

Some homes use oil to heat the home. Others use propane for fireplaces and cooking. There are various fuels used in homes, with tanks that will likely be empty when you move in. Knowing this in advance will help prevent any delay when it comes to using utilities in the home that rely on these fuels.

After you have established what kind of utilities your home uses and you will be responsible for, the next step is finding out who provides these services in your area. The best way to do this is by finding your original list of utilities and then finding the corresponding local provider for each. In some cases (internet, home security, for example), there will be multiple providers for you to choose from.

It is best to get this list about a month in advance in case you run into any potential snags. There also may be some companies that require scheduling several weeks in advance.

The third major step to setting up your utilities in your new home is to call and schedule setup with all the companies. As you call all the companies on the list you created in phase two, you may need to also ensure the previous owner has canceled service.

Once you cancel the service, you can create an account. After this, you can then schedule when you want to have service initiated. This date will mark when the utility is your responsibility.

It is best practice to have the utilities turned on one or two days in advance, especially if the house was vacant previous to you moving in. This will allow you to verify that all utilities are turned on before you even walk through the door.

Make sure you call the companies and schedule turn-on service two weeks in advance. Many companies need to schedule a worker to turn on a meter, make a delivery, or set up a connection. Companies can be very backed up, so giving them a few weeks is helpful. This two-week period also allows you some time to set up automatic bill pay, online accounts, and other billing preferences that make paying your utilities seamless.

The last step to turning on your utilities after you purchase a new home is to confirm that all utilities are running. As we mentioned in phase three, it is best to have your utilities turned on a day or two in advance. Doing this makes it possible for you to double-check that all your utilities have been transferred to your name, and everything is in working order.

Sure, you can wait until the moving day to confirm the setup went well. But this may involve you setting up in the dark, and without air conditioning, if there was an issue with setting up electricity.

Minor issues happen more than you would think, especially when it comes to setting up utilities in advance. So giving yourself a day or two buffer can really save you the move-in day headaches.

Pro Tip: Be mindful of holidays, weekends, and working hours. If you are moving in on a weekend or holiday, you may need to wait even longer for service.

Just as you need to set up your utilities, you also need to prepare for your local residence policies, and the fees associated with it. Make sure you know the trash and recycling policy in your new community. Know the trash pickup days, the fees they charge and what is allowed.

If you live in an area with an HOA, make sure you read through the guidelines. Failure to abide by HOA and residence policies can sometimes result in some hefty fines. Plus, it’s just good to know all the rules before you step into the yard.

Home security, cable, and internet are usually utilities where you have several companies to choose from. Some companies even bundle all three of these services. It is best to research all the companies that provide these services in your area.

Find the best deal and services that work for you. With internet and home security, in particular, it is important to schedule an intimation time well in advance. Many of these providers are very busy. You may need to wait a week or more to get a technician to visit your home.

There is arguably a fifth phase to setting up utilities at your new home. It is reading through your first bill very carefully. Check the bill to make sure your utilities started on the correct day. Also, look at the bill to confirm that the rates are correct.

Sometimes you can find there are ways to trim your monthly bill by omitting certain services you don’t need. Uncovering these hidden fees in your first month instead of years down the road can save you lots of money. There may also be savings incentives for paperless billing or automatic bill payment. Take advantage of these simple savings right off the bat.

When you purchase a home, the first step to setting up the utilities is knowing which utilities you need to pay. Then, about a month before you move in, find out which companies you will need to use for these utilities. About two weeks before you move in, call all your utility companies to set up accounts and schedule turn-on service.

One day before you move in, confirm all your utilities are on. This will prevent potential headaches. Then, a month later when the first bill arrives, be sure to check it carefully for potential savings or errors.