Welcome to the ATL – where life is fun, the food is good, and the people make it one of the best cities in the country! If you are making the move to Atlanta, here are a few tips to remember post move to help your transition to a new city go as smoothly as possible.
- Turn on your utilities
Ideally, you want to start this process before you officially make your move. If you wait until the last minute you could find yourself lighting candles to unpack your belongings until the utilities can be turned on. The process is typically simple to do and requires a simple form you can usually fill out online. Depending on the situation, some utility companies will require a deposit, so make sure to factor that into your moving budget. With most utility companies, you can easily schedule your “turn on service” date for the day you move in.
Common utilities include:
- Gas
- Electricity
- Water/Sewer
- Trash
- Internet
- Cable
For cable options, use websites like allconnect.com to locate and find the best deals in your particular neighborhood. Schedule this set-up early on to make sure you have TV and internet at your new place right away. Someone will most likely be home to set-up the service and give access to the internet and cable provider.
- Locate the fuse box and other house essentials
It is important to know where the fuse box is in case of a blown fuse or emergency. Typically, fuse boxes are located in the garage or basement, but if you have a hard time locating the box, make sure to call your rental company to confirm. The fuse box will most likely be a metal box that sits flush with the wall. In some older homes, the box may be located on the exterior of the house as well.
From time to time, a fuse may blow and you may need to switch it back on to regain the power to certain outlets.
- Update your new address
This important and often overlooked step can cause issues down the road – like a past-due bill notice!
Common places to update your new address include:
- Bank
- Credit Cards
- HR department at work
- Car insurance
- Health insurance
- Family
- Friends
- Phone company
- Voter registration
- Subscription services
- Department of Motor Vehicles
- IRS
- Post Office
Helpful Tip: Most states require new residents to apply for their new driver’s license and car tags within 30 days of moving to a new state. If you are staying within the same state, make sure to fill out a change of address form with the DMV for future proof of residency.
At Fox Moving and Storage – a premier Atlanta moving company, we have a wide variety of options to make your move easy and painless. Explore our services here and let us know how we can help!