There’s no way around it: moving house is a lot of work. On top of the physical labour, there’s the mental load of having so many tasks to cross off your checklist: packing, organising removalists and bond cleaners, and changing your address on all your documents. On top of everything else to think about when you’re moving house is utilities: those essentials like electricity, water, gas and internet that allow you to enjoy the comforts of your home.
Connecting utilities is a fairly quick process but not an instant one. While some energy providers can sort out a connection in a single business day, others may need two business days or more to complete their tasks. Gas connections commonly take up to a few days. When you give yourself plenty of time to change utilities when you’re moving house, the process becomes smoother and easier.
Ready Movers provides a service that adheres to the highest Australian moving standards on the market. With 17 years of experience, we can help you make your move a well-organised, easy and seamless one.
Here is the Ready Movers guide to a sometimes forgotten but no less essential part of moving house: setting up utilities.
How to Connect/Disconnect Utilities When Moving House
Whether you’ve purchased a new property or found the perfect rental, getting your utilities sorted well before the moving date will help you settle in much faster, arranging final meter readings and closing billing periods will prevent you from being charged for the power that others use after you’ve moved out.
You’ll need to address each utility separately, so start the process at least three weeks before you move.
Figure out your future needs
Your utility needs in your new home may differ from your utility needs so far, and some providers only serve certain areas. These days, you’ll find many homes with gas and just as many homes without. Checking the specifics of the house or area you’re moving into will help you with the next stage of the process.
Cancel or transfer your existing connections
Once you’ve determined your needs for your next home, it’s time to get in touch with your existing utility providers. If you’re happy with your existing plans and providers, you can simply transfer them to your new address. If it’s time for a change, look at the deals on offer and then contact your new providers so they can sign you up.
Check the process was successful
It’s possible for companies to make errors when cancelling or transferring an account. Also, check that the utilities in your new home have been properly connected. Double-check your account to make sure they were successfully disconnected from your old address. This will save you from incurring more expenses from a service you’re no longer using.
Key Things to Consider to Ensure Your Utility Connection is Seamless
While moving house utilities is a fairly simple operation, there are some considerations you can keep in mind to make sure the process runs smoothly:
- If you leave it a little late to switch utilities, you may be able to get a same-day or next-business-day electricity connection, depending on your area and any eligibility requirements. Remember that urgent connection fees can add extra costs.
- Even after you’ve moved, you’ll still receive a final bill for the electricity you used at your last property up to the disconnection date. If you’re moving out of a sharehouse and the energy account is in your name, make sure you transfer it to another occupant.
- The months and weeks before your move are a good time to research other providers and decide if you want to make a change. Some companies may offer discounted deals or selections like green energy that may better suit your lifestyle.
- Check the existing connections. While most properties will already have the infrastructure for connecting utilities, some, especially newly built properties, may require fitting it from scratch.
- If the power at your new house has been disconnected, make sure all the main switches in the fuse box are turned off to allow the electricity to be connected.
- Provide your updated address and contact details to all utility providers so that they can reach you at your new home.
- Consider budget and payment options in advance. After the financial strain of moving, you want to make sure you have enough left to cover your new expenses and anything outstanding from your last address. Your first bill will arrive within 10-100 days of moving into your new address and may include a connection fee (cost is another factor to confirm with the new provider). Write down your meter readings at your new place when you move in so you can confirm they correspond with your first bill.
How to Handle Connecting Utilities When Moving Interstate
Whether it’s a new career opportunity, a preference for better weather, study opportunities or just a change in lifestyle that takes you there, moving interstate can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. It can also be a lot of hard work and stress.
Australia has a highly mobile population, and hundreds of thousands of residents move interstate per year. Ready Movers’ popular routes from Brisbane include those who make the move from the Sunshine State to bigger capital cities like Sydney and Melbourne and those who shift to regional areas like Cairns and Townsville.
Changing utilities when moving house interstate involves the same process as changing utilities for a local move. It just adds an extra layer of complexity. Make sure you start early, contacting all utility providers well in advance of your moving date. Make sure you research the providers in your new location, as they may be very different to the ones you’ve been using in your current state. In particular, some rural and remote areas may have a more limited selection or only one provider. Request to cancel or disconnect your services early and provide them with the date you’ll be vacating the property.
Before your move, research the differences between utilities, rates and services in different states as much as possible. Be aware of any state-by-state differences that might be able to help you make better-informed decisions.
Get a Free Quote for a Hassle-Free Move from Ready Movers
Ready Movers offers hassle-free home removals both locally and interstate. With a dedicated team and the latest tools and technology at the ready, we can handle every aspect of your move with care and precision. Our services include home removals of all sizes (from a single room to the entire house), packing services, and storage containers.
Our interstate removal services include free in-home assessments and written quotes, door-to-door relocations and pre-packing and unpacking services. For all interstate furniture transport, we send your precious possessions by rail.
Ready Movers has a no-damage written guarantee, a full pack and move service tailored to your needs and fully insured removals with your own dedicated move manager.
If you’re ready to make your move easier and settle into your new home faster, get your moving quote from Ready Movers today.
