Build the list from recent bills, the lease or closing packet, and a room-by-room scan for provider equipment. Requirements differ by address and provider, so confirm dates, identity checks, deposits, appointments, and equipment rules directly.
Inventory every active service
List services billed directly, services included by a landlord or association, and equipment that belongs to a provider. Include electricity, gas, water, sewer, internet, television, phone, waste, recycling, alarm monitoring, fuel delivery, and any rented water or energy equipment.
- Record provider, account reference, service address, and contact channel
- Mark whether the service is transferred, stopped, or left in place
- Identify deposits, autopay, credits, and paperless billing
- Photograph rented routers, boxes, tanks, or monitoring devices
- Ask the property contact which services must remain active at handoff
Choose safe start and stop dates
Do not stop essential service at the old home before cleaning, inspection, final loading, or possession transfer is complete. Start essential service at the new home before arrival when the provider and property rules allow it. Add time for technician appointments and failed activation.
- Keep electricity and water available through final inspection
- Coordinate gas service with any required safety appointment
- Start new-home essentials before the first overnight stay
- Allow internet installation time instead of assuming instant transfer
- Keep written confirmation of every effective date
Ownership or lease dates do not always determine utility responsibility automatically. Confirm the actual billing and meter handoff with the property contact and provider.
Prepare the new address and access
Providers may need an exact unit designation, identity verification, deposit, property access, or an adult present. Verify the service address as the provider records it and make sure the technician can enter the building, equipment room, yard, or unit during the appointment window.
- Confirm unit, building, postal, and meter details
- Complete identity, credit, deposit, or authorization requirements
- Reserve building access for technician visits
- Identify existing outlets, panels, meters, and provider equipment
- Create an alternate contact for appointment day
Record final readings and condition
On the final day of responsibility, photograph accessible meters when safe and permitted, along with the reading and identifying number. Record the date and time. Return provider equipment through an approved channel and keep a receipt that identifies each device.
- Capture final electric, gas, and water readings where applicable
- Submit readings through the provider's accepted method
- Return routers, receivers, remotes, or monitoring equipment
- Keep tracking, serial numbers, and return receipts
- Confirm the forwarding address for final bills and refunds
Verify the first forty-eight hours
Check that essential services are active and associated with the correct unit. Test ordinary use without opening sealed or restricted equipment. Report outages, leaks, odors, damaged provider equipment, or account-address mismatches through the appropriate emergency or service channel.
- Test lights, outlets, water flow, hot water, and internet connection
- Confirm heating or cooling responds normally
- Verify waste and recycling collection instructions
- Check that alarm monitoring or access systems are assigned correctly
- Save outage and emergency numbers offline
Audit the first bills
Review final and first bills for service dates, readings, deposits, installation charges, equipment fees, and credits. Cancel old autopay only after the final balance and refund are resolved. Update billing addresses and retain closing statements with the moving records.
- Compare billed service dates with confirmations
- Check estimated versus actual meter readings
- Reconcile deposits, credits, and equipment returns
- Remove obsolete autopay after the account closes
- Store final statements and dispute references