Completed - now what?

[Deleted User]

Hi all,
We are first time buyers who have just completed on a house today, and going to pick the keys up this afternoon. The posts on here have been so helpful in this confusing journey, and I am so relieved and excited to get moving!
What do we need to do first? We are moving from living with parents so we don't have any bills to transfer, so is it just a case of taking meter readings and calling a company to set up a bill?
Thank you so much advance for help, I know it is probably an obvious answer but I have seen so much good advice on here and don't want to mess up now!

always_sunny

assuming you have already done the building insurance, change the locks!

[Deleted User]

We have already done buildings insurance! Yes I think a trip to b&q will be in order, especially as it used to be a rented house so who knows how many people have keys! Thank you

wjr4

Congratulations!! I think the previous owners left us a note saying who the gas & electric providers were so I called them to set up an account first (I checked we were on the best deal after & ensured we were on an early exit fee-free tariff). I contacted the council to say we moved. water & sewage - check who these providers are in your area. I'm sure someone else will provide a better answer than this though!

[Deleted User]

Okay thank you that's very helpful! It might be Tuesday as we wont get home from work in time then its bank holiday weekend, do you think that would be okay? Will still do meter readings tonight as soon as we get there.

hazyjo

Get the Champagne in the fridge, and sort out what takeaway you'll get tonight


Congrats!


Oh, and make up the bed - you won't want to do that later!




Jx

[Deleted User]

Don't worry we have plenty of beer for him and rum and coke for me packed!
��

Calleja

Regarding your utility supplies, you may need to first make contact with the current suppliers - if I recall correctly, that should have be on the property information form (or whatever its called) that the vendors complete. If not, there are numbers you can call to find out, look here:


https://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/guides/who-supplies-my-electricity-and-gas/#movedin


I don't think it matters too much if you do it a couple of days later, just make sure you have accurate readings from completion. They will probably put you on their standard rate initially which won't be the cheapest, so then you need to shop around. You will need to pick your tariff based on predicted usage as you won't have actual usage until after the first year, but a lot of comparison sites (Martins included, I think) help you estimate usage based on size of house and your lifestyle.

AlexMac

And as well as

always_sunny wrote: »

... change the locks!

, chack the window catches are secure. We thought ours were, until, three weeks in, someone attacked a rear upstairs bedroom window with a crowbar, using a ladder which a neighbour's scaffolder had helpfully left unlocked!

Revealing that the locks were robust; but only secured to the timber frames with puny half inch screws which popped under pressure. Now we're bomb-proof, and the alarm scared em off after rifling through the jewelly in just that one room... but it was a lesson learned.

Marvel1

1. Change the locks
2. Meter readings
3. Set up council tax

penguingirl

Register to vote!
Change your car registrations and insurance to new address
Sort out a phone line /internet- this has always taken ages for us, as it want fibre they may have to come out to property and seem to always cancel
Inform anyone who has your address- banks, credit cards, contact lenses, GP etc. You may have difficulties using credit cards etc until your billing and delivery address match