When should you get utilities hooked up before a move?

The short answer to this question is: ideally, about 2-3 weeks before your moving date. You don't want to settle into your new home after your move is complete and realize that you don't have any electricity, running water or cable, do you? Of course not! So planning ahead of time to connect all of your utilities and have them ready to go on the day you're scheduled to move in is the smartest way to go. 

When you move into a new home that was previously owned by someone else before you, they should already have water and electricity service to the home, depending on how long it was vacant before you moved in. If you moved in shortly after the previous owners left, the water and electricity may still be running. In that case, you will be required to call up the water company and electric/gas company that provides service to your area and request that the account for the property be switched into your name.

If the home was vacant for a prolonged period of time and the water and electricity for the property has been shut off, then you will have to call and request new service for the address under your name. Either way, it's best to handle all of this at least one to two full weeks before you're scheduled to move in. If the previous owners are still living there, notify the utility companies that you will be moving in and give them your move-in date, and then request that the service be switched into your name effective on that date.

The same goes for your TV and cable. There are typically more options available for customers in the TV and cable area than there are for other utilities. Your water and electric company will usually be determined by where you live, however you are free to choose what kind of television/internet hook-up you'd like, whether it's satellite, cable, fiber-optic cable, or another option. The optimal time to have your TV and Internet installations arranged is 2-3 weeks before you move. Call the company and set an appointment for them to come to your home and complete the hook-ups.

To read more about hooking up your utilities after you move, visit our moving guides page to browse an extensive collective of helpful and informative guides and videos.