What makes a place feel like home? While this question is difficult to answer, it never feels more relevant than when you’re moving house. Your familiar belongings and furniture may occupy a space, but it still does take a little while for your new place to truly feel like home. Many people assume that unpacking and arranging your things is the key to making your new house a home, however there’s more to simply decorating your new space. You’ll also need to organise the more practical aspects of your home, such as setting up your utilities.
As New Zealand’s trusted moving company, we have helped thousands of Kiwis successfully relocate and make their new house feel like home. Here is our guide to setting up utilities in your new home.
Check what utilities you need
Every home requires different utilities, varying on the type of house and usage needs. If you are renting, your landlord may cover some of your utility bills and factor the cost directly into the rent. In the case of living in an apartment block, there may be only one water, gas or electricity meter so the usage readings will be for all of the residents. Often, the cost of these utilities will be divided among the residents or you may end up paying a flat fee each month. It’s best to ask whether you need to set up your own utilities or the pricing model before you sign the lease or purchase agreement of your new home.
Your type of home may also not require some utilities, especially if you are using clean energy types of power generation such as solar panels and heat pump hot water heaters. If you are unsure about which utilities you need, then get in touch with your real estate agent or contact the utilities providers to ask if a connection is possible.
Electricity
Every home needs some form of electricity to power the lights, cook your food, and watch television. Even if you are using a solar energy system, you may still need to be connected to a power provider in order to have electricity during overcast days or during heavy usage. Your electricity provider should step you through any set up procedures, such as turning off everything in the fuse box before connection.
Water
If you want to wash your dishes, take a shower, clean your clothes and stay hydrated then you’ll need to set up your water! As an essential service, water should be one of the first utilities you set up. However, it is sometimes managed by the landlord or building so double check the water arrangement before you move in.
Gas
The requirement for gas depends on your heating and cooking set-up. Many New Zealand homes use gas to heat hot water and for stovetop cooking so it’s a worthwhile utility to connect. However, as the Climate Change Commission urges the New Zealand Government to phase out gas by 2050 and off-shore exploration is discouraged, gas may continue to become more expensive. If possible, switch to clean energy or electricity instead of gas.
Waste and recycling services
In the larger cities and urban areas, the local council will provide waste and recycling collection services. To find out collection days and which bins are provided, check out your local council’s website. In the case of living in a rural area, you may be responsible for disposing of your own waste and recycling. If you are unsure about your waste utilities, then it’s best to contact your council directly.
Landline
In the modern world, the landline often seems obsolete. It’s not uncommon to assume that getting a landline phone connected is a waste of time and money, but it can be highly useful. If you are living in rural areas with poor mobile coverage, it’s a good idea to connect a landline phone to have back-up. Some internet providers may also require you to also connect a landline in order for you to have internet access.
Internet
Internet connection has become a must have for most Kiwis. Shop around for different providers to find a usage package that suits your needs. It’s better to pay a little more for unlimited data than risk your work zoom call cutting out mid sentence or being unable to scroll social media. If you do a lot of online streaming, such as watching Netflix or Neon and playing video games online, you’ll want a fast internet connection with a large data package and may need to pay a little more. Internet connection tends to be a bit slower to connect than other utilities so get in touch early to get connected on the date that you need.
When should you set up your utilities?
With the chaos of moving, many people leave the setting up of utilities until they move into their new home. This last minute approach means you may be scrambling to find a suitable provider and may not have your utilities connected when you need them. Ideally, you want to begin arranging your utilities as soon as you know that you are moving. Organising all your utilities first thing means you won’t need to worry about them as you pack for your move and then settle into your new home. It also gives you the time to renegotiate your contract or compare deals which can save you some significant cash later down the track.
Transfer or cancel
As you begin to prepare to move out of your old home, you’ll have to decide whether you want to transfer your utility contracts to your new home or cancel them. There are benefits to and disadvantages of both options. Transferring your utilities is great if you are happy with your provider and don’t want to stress over doing any additional paperwork. Cancelling your utilities gives you the opportunity to compare deals, however depending on your existing contract you may need to pay any cancellation or disconnection charges. Transferring is also a great time to see if you can re-negotiate your existing contract for a better deal as many providers will want to avoid customers switching to a competitor. If your move is inter-island, then you may need to cancel if the provider is specific to North or South.
Shop around for a good deal
Taking the time to shop around utilities providers can be worth the time and effort. Switching providers can save a significant amount of money in the long run especially with new or first-time customer deals. You can find the deals by either contacting providers directly or using comparison websites like Powerswitch and Glimp. Don’t be afraid to call utility providers and bargain for a better deal.
Review the contract carefully
Before you sign any contract, you need to take the time to ensure you read through it carefully and your utilities contracts are no exceptions! Before you sign, make sure you review the fine print. While it is boring and often difficult to read, you’ll often find hidden costs, cancellation fees and price surge charges in the details. If you are unhappy with any of the fine print, discuss it with the provider before signing.
Handling disputes
Sometimes you and your utility provider may not see eye to eye on things. Whether it’s about your connection date or unsatisfactory service, it’s best to lodge your complaint in writing. If the utility provider fails to address your concerns, you can get in touch with UDL: Utilities Disputes. As an independent body, they can investigate your complaint and help to resolve it.
Organise the rest of your move
Now the utilities are sorted for your new home, it’s time to get the rest of your move organised. You’ll need to first get in touch with an experienced moving company like Allied to begin facilitating your move. They will discuss your local, inter-island or international moving requirements and provide you with a tailored relocation solution that suits your specific needs and budget.
After you’ve chosen your movers, you’ll then need to begin packing. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the tedious process of packing your house, then why not get the professionals to do it for you? By using a professional packing service, all your belongings and furniture will be packed safely and securely for the journey to your new home.
Moving with a pet or vehicle? They will also need to be safely transported to your destination. With every other aspect of your move to organise, you should use a vehicle or pet relocation service to do the job for you. As experts in moving animals or vehicles, they will arrange all the necessary documentation, prepare your pet or car for the move, and give you continuous updates along the way.
Get in touch with the friendly Allied team today to discuss your move today!