First Time Buyer - Need help!

ebarton24

my partner and i are in the process of buying our own place - new build two bed apartment. i'm not sure how we go about comparing prices for bills or water gas etc as we dont have previous details to go on....what do we do! there seems to be loads of advise on first time buyer mortgages but nothing about first time buyers after the mortgage! (not that i can fnd!) how much would set up cost be as well? i know it may differ between companies...but a rough idea would be good!

hope you can help in any way!
look forward to hearing from you!

Cardew

Water you have no options - there is no choice of company. Just make sure you read the meter when you move in. Prices depend on how much water you use and where you live.

Initially with gas and electricity you also have no choice - you use the company that are supplying the flat.

Without any history of gas/electricity consumption it will not be possible to know the best company. However go to a comparison website and enter 10,000kWh pa for gas and 3,000kWh for electricity and note the company. Then try variations on those figures 12,000/4000kWh gas/electricity and a pattern will emerge.

It takes some 6-8 weeks to move from your present supplier.

Parchester

Cardew's advice is spot on. I would add the following: With a new build apartment, which may have been known as a unit number/plot number when the supply pipes and cables were laid and connected, make sure the utilities have your new postal address exactly correct with the correct corresponding meter numbers. Confusion over new addresses (for example when unit 6 of block 2 becomes no. 23 Acacia Gardens) is one of the main causes of billing and change of supplier problems. Also check with the builder who actually installed the supplies - for example these days it is very common for an independent contractor to install the gas pipe and if so, you will pay an additional charge to them over and above what a comparison site may tell you.

Premier_2

ebarton24 wrote: »

...how much would set up cost be as well? i know it may differ between companies....

Hopefully the developer has arranged for the connection of all services ready for when you move in ... so you don't have to pay any set-up costs.

Make sure you take the meter readings when you move in, so that the developer pays for any usage he made during the construction and commissioning of your new home ... normally part of the welcome pack the developer should go through with you when you move in.

Speak to the developer now if you need more information on what to expect on moving in day