The moving truck is the easy part. The utilities checklist is what decides whether your first night in the new place has lights, hot water and Wi-Fi. Work through this list in order and nothing falls through the cracks.
Electricity is the anchor utility — most providers need it active before they can inspect or connect anything else. Schedule the connection for the morning of your move-in day at the latest, and schedule the disconnect at your old address for the day after you leave so the fridge and lights keep working while you clean.
Gas often requires a technician visit if the line was shut off, which can add days to the schedule. Water and sewer are usually handled through your city or county utility office — call ahead, because some municipalities want a deposit or proof of account transfer before move-in.
Shortcut: Utility Wallet is a free service that sets up your electricity, gas, water and internet for you — about 10 minutes, all 50 states, no markups.
Set up every utility free →Internet is the one utility with real lead time: install slots book out days or weeks ahead, especially for fiber. Place the order before you move, schedule activation for move-in day, and if the provider needs access to the unit, make sure the install window overlaps with when you will physically be there.
Trash service is easy to miss because it is often billed differently — sometimes through the city, sometimes through a private hauler, sometimes quietly through your rent. Ask your landlord or the city which one applies, and update the account name on move-in day.
Leave a 48-hour overlap of utilities at both addresses. If anything slips, you still have working services on both ends, and you avoid the classic trap of paying to keep an empty apartment powered while your new home sits dark.
Shortcut: Utility Wallet is a free service that sets up your electricity, gas, water and internet for you — about 10 minutes, all 50 states, no markups.
Set up every utility free →