Moving out, Moving on (Setting up New House)

LM3Z3JK on 31/08/2020 - 08:56
Last edited 01/09/2020 - 09:26 by 1 other user

Hi OZB!!

First time posting so take it easy on me.

My GF and I have decided to move out together and have been approved for a small house. I have a couple of days to sort out -

Electricity
Gas
Water
Internet
Anything else?

This is probably very simple stuff but it is all new to me so I'm not sure how long everything takes to set up? Who to go with and what I should be paying on a weekly basis (average) for two people ?

I would like to try avoid common newbie mistakes so any information would be helpful.

Thank you in advance

***************EDIT*******************

Overwhelming response. Thanks so much OZB! some great information, we are really excited !

  • I ended up going with EnergyAustralia, they had a good sign up bonus and also cheapest of the big 3
  • Unfortunately the internet is a two week wait for an nbn technician which is disappointing as I mostly work from home.
Home & Garden

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 31/08/2020 - 09:00
    +8
    1. Fridge, Pots and pans, Crockery and dinnerware.
    2. Washing machine
    3. Foldable tables and chairs

    The rest will fall into place.

  • Summoner on 31/08/2020 - 09:10
    +8

    Electricity, gas, water is just phone call away. Just make sure you take the photo of meter reading on the start day of the lease.
    Internet connection is usually fast (usually 3 days to 2 weeks in my experience), but its best to arrange it as soon as possible to avoid any delays. Just give your choice of ISP the date you wish to connect the internet, and they will do the rest.

    • jjjaar on 31/08/2020 - 09:24
      +6

      Just make sure you take the photo of meter reading on the start day of the lease.

      Just emphasising this as it is very useful.

    • Summoner on 31/08/2020 - 09:56
      +1

      Just correcting my comment above. As Meho2026 commented below, usually, you dont need to arrange water.
      Also, Electricity and Gas provider allows you to send them the meter reading at any time during the billing cycle. When you send them the meter reading, they will show you the cost to date and estimated bill at the end of the billing cycle. If you are worried about energy bills for first quarter, you can use this feature to get some idea on your first energy bill.

  • ihbh on 31/08/2020 - 09:16
    +1

    Microwave to list above. Can warm up meals until you get other things sorted.

  • jtc13 on 31/08/2020 - 09:19
    +6

    Contents Insurance. Your landlord will have insurance for the property in case it burns down but this won't cover your contents if it is burner or you get a break in and things are stolen.

    So if you have high quality valuable stuff you may want to insure your contents. If you don't think you have valuable stuff that would be the target of thieves you don't need it.

    Good luck with the move!

  • Obsqur on 31/08/2020 - 09:22
    +1

    should be safe if you allocate yourselves about $20 a week for each utility, it will change over time, but you wont know until its been a few months, then adjust accordingly, (over estimate, & set up a weekly auto deposit to them if you can, eventual you'll find that you are $500ish in credit, & then if you get a bit stuck for $$, you can stop your auto payments for a month or 2)

    sometimes they can take a few days, but you can call ahead and set a time in advance (give yourself an extra day in case of issues, I've used AGL for most of my renting life, no dramas for me, i rekon they are all about the same tho, i think most do Gas & electricity these days, its convenient to have those 2 together, Water is prob the easiest, its often preset up with the real estate, internet you might have to shop around, as not all mobs will lead to every house.

    don't forget to have fun & enjoy this time! fish & chips sitting on the floor by candle light, is a great first night together.

    • dasher86 on 31/08/2020 - 10:33
      -1

      why would you want to set up auto payments to utilities and want to be in credit?
      That money is best off with you in a savings account or similar earning you interest.

      Agree, make sure to have fun.

      • Obsqur on 31/08/2020 - 10:48
        +1

        auto payments from your bank to theirs have no fees attached (if your with an online Bank like ING or Ubank), also a few of them have discounts if you pay early, you'll always be in front.
        you can always watch it closer, say keep that credit amount around $50 or $100 i adjust mine every couple of months.

        I used to watch every dollar, move money around every week, it becomes exhausting…
        I don't earn enough to be gaining significant interest per pay or bill cycle to bother
        i still have dedicated savings accounts though, they get what they get & grow in their own time

        • Wickz on 31/08/2020 - 14:43
          +1

          I do the exact same thing. Pay goes in Wed night, Thurs morning money gets BPAY'ed to all my services and other accounts, and whatever is left is play money. This means my services are always paid and I never have to worry about a big bill landing on my lap. The gas bill ends up in credit over Summer, but then its all used up in Winter when I use the heating. For first time renters I think this is a fabulous habit to get into whist you are still learning how to budget.

    • wasteofspace on 01/09/2020 - 14:38

      This is a REALLY good suggestion.
      I did this when I was about 30 years old.
      Prior to this, I NEVER had the money for the large bills.
      After doing this, I laughed when the big ones came in.
      Since then I have managed to never fall behind on any bills at all.

  • Rilo 117 on 31/08/2020 - 09:33
    +9

    Also, make sure you get a ton of photos of everything prior to moving in, and detail everything on the condition report, when I was younger I got my parents to do the walk through with me, as they would tend to pick up everything little thing that I didn't notice. Makes for an easier time when moving out later.

    With budgeting, try the envelope system, worked really well for me when I had roommates. My preferred method now is having a spreadsheet and averaging my expenses, when I get paid monthly a chunk goes to a second account that all the bills scheduled or automatically came out of, try to always have a bit of a buffer of say $500 for bills, as sometimes as seasons change bills can increase and decrease depending on what you're consuming.

    Congrats on moving in with the g/f, enjoy and make the most of it!

    • CheapAtTwiceThePrice on 31/08/2020 - 10:34
      +4

      "get a ton of photos of everything prior to moving in, and detail everything on the condition report"
      +1

  • Meho2026 on 31/08/2020 - 09:34
    +1

    You dont have to do anything about the water supply. Water is always connected and the property owner is billed directly for the connection and supply.
    You only have to pay for water use in NSW if the landlord has fitted water saving devices that meet water efficiency standards. The landlord or real estate agent will bill you separately each quarter for the water usage only, you dont pay the other charges only for the actual water usage. You should receive a copy of the landlords bill that itemises everything.
    Budget for about $80/quarter.
    For gas and electricity look for sign up bonuses with the power companies.
    Use a government tool to compare prices eg https://www.energymadeeasy.gov.au/
    Read reviews of the power companies customer service. Most have overseas contact centres and when something goes wrong some are better than others to deal with.

  • axloz on 31/08/2020 - 09:36

    Congrats, good luck, and enjoy! The 'real world' starts at you once you move out and do all that adulty crap, so do your best to enjoy yourselves and don't sweat the small fry.

    You've got the key utils on your hit list (OzB will help you with good deals on some of those!), a few have mentioned fridges, washers, etc, etc - you'll need that too.

    My last piece of advice is to do a thorough inspection once you take possession of the house. Take photos with your phone and just store them on google drive or something, but take detailed notes on things that are broken in the house, and anything that isn't working properly. Also make notes of things that aren't clean or things that are showing signs of lots of use - floor finishes, paint and wall finishes, kitchen and bathroom taps and fixtures, etc. Always note that the tiles and grouting are dirty (coz they usually are in rentals..). Internals is more important for you, but given its a house, do a similar exercise on the externals - guttering, fences and gates, general condition of finishes and fixtures. Just be as thorough as you can. Might take you a few hours.

    The idea is that you have this information at the other end of the lease so they don't charge you for something that was already busted when you moved in.

  • undercut on 31/08/2020 - 09:40
    +3
    • Go to this website to find cheapest rates for electricity and gas - https://www.energymadeeasy.gov.au/

    • If Energy Australia is cheapest, make sure you apply via Cashrewards for a $70 cashback

    • Water should already be connected if you're a tenant

    • Internet - check a few different providers to find the cheapest/best service. Cheapest company I've found is Tangerine Telecom + no lock in contracts - use the referral links here on OzB to get $25 off your first bill. Aussie Broadband also has a referral program.

    • Contact Vicroads/Services NSW etc to change your driver's licence address

    • Contact bank, electoral commission, superannuation, ATO etc to change your address

    • Take photos of EVERYTHING before you move in. Check the real estate agent's condition report very carefully to make sure it correlates. Otherwise at the end of your tenancy, you may be charged for pre-existing damage

    • Get renter's insurance if your possessions are high value

    • Purchase checklist: Check Gumtree/FB Marketplace as these are often given away for free
      -fridge
      -microwave
      -kettle
      -toaster
      -drinkware
      -crockery
      -cutlery + utensils
      -washing machine
      -dining table + chairs
      -couch
      -TV + stand
      -bed
      -vacuum
      -cleaning products - mop + bucket, microfibre cloths

    Congrats to you and your gf, exciting times :)

  • ozprash on 31/08/2020 - 09:57

    To make the move comfortable, ensure you have a mattress, microwave and fridge on the first night in. That takes care of the the eating and sleeping needs. The rest have been mentioned in the other comments.
    Electricity and gas with AGL, Internet with ABB should be fine.

  • Euphemistic on 31/08/2020 - 10:20
    +2

    Go easy on the air con and/or heater until you work out how much they cost to run. Getting a massive first bill because you ran the heater 24/7 isn’t fun.

  • [Deactivated] on 31/08/2020 - 10:43
    -1

    Visit the local police station and local council to ensure that your permits are in order for the welcoming parade

  • jamescavs on 31/08/2020 - 12:50
    +2

    After you move everything, make sure to set up your bed so you can have a good night sleep.

    Also don't even entertain the idea of cooking any food that day. You'll be too exhausted so plan ahead what takeaway you'll buy so you have something to look forward to that night.

  • Wickz on 31/08/2020 - 14:52
    +1

    Some other ideas:

    • Dont forget to update the address on your car insurance
    • Set up a mail redirect (if required - not sure if you are just moving out of home)
    • Fridge / Microwave / Kettle / Toaster / Crockery and Cutlery should be prioritised. There is no shame sitting on cushions on the floor watching shows on your laptop whilst you save up for the nice couch and tv.
    • Facebook Marketplace / Gumtree can be your best friends when looking for cheap furniture
    • Take photos of the meters when you move in
    • change the locks. (You dont know how many people have lived there before and how many sets of keys are floating around. You can either pay a locksmith or swap out the locks with sets from Bunnings. If you do change them dont forget you have to give you agent a copy)
    • Be very thorough with the ingoing condition report. Just because the agent didn't record that scuff mark on the wall doesn't mean you should ignore it! Take photos as well.
    • Update address on state and federal electoral roles
    • Update address on your drivers licence
    • Euphemistic on 01/09/2020 - 07:02

      change the locks

      Good idea if you are an owner. If you are renting this will need to be approved by the landlord.

      • Wickz on 01/09/2020 - 10:23

        In Victoria, I’ve never had to ask permission as it’s been written into all my leases as a standard clause. The only condition is you must provide a copy of the new keys to the agent.

        Might be different with other states or agencies though.

        EDIT: Tenant can change locks but it is at their own costs and must provide the landlord with a copy of the key within a week. (It’s written something like that)

  • matt3 on 31/08/2020 - 16:55

    Moving out = Best time of your life. Soak up every opportunity it provides you. All the best.

  • giftcardinspector on 01/09/2020 - 07:42

    Be absolutely ruthless on your property condition report.
    Detail absolutely every mark, chipped paint, hole, mould, cracked tile etc
    Take photos of all of them close up and from further back to show where they are.
    This will save you in the case that you have a real estate agent that will try to take your bond over something that was always there.
    I can't stress this enough.

  • OzHunterNSW on 01/09/2020 - 12:28
    +2

    1: Make sure you put your partner's name on ALL utility Accounts.
    2: Make sure their name is included upon the Lease and Bond.

    You are a partnership now… if anyone decides to break this bond, they owe obligations to pay out what they owe.

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