What to Cancel Before Moving

When preparing for a move, it’s essential to cancel or update subscriptions and services to avoid unnecessary charges and ensure a smooth transition to your new home, including utilities, recurring payments, phone, cable and internet, mailing address, homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, and homeowner’s association. To do this effectively, create a comprehensive moving checklist that outlines all the tasks you need to complete, including canceling bills, closing accounts, and notifying service providers of your move.

Understanding the Cancellation Process

Why Cancellation is Important

Cancellation of services is a crucial step in the moving process, as it helps prevent unwanted charges and service disruptions. It’s also an opportunity to review and adjust your service plans to ensure they meet your needs in your new location.

What to Cancel

The following services should be canceled or updated before moving:

• Utilities: energy, water, gas, electric, and internet
• Recurring payments: gym memberships, subscription services, and loan payments
• Phone and cable services: update your address and plan as needed
• Insurance: homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, and auto insurance
• Homeowner’s association: notify them of your move and update your membership status

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What should I do two weeks before moving? Two weeks before the move, cancel or transfer all utilities, including water, gas, electric, telephone, and internet service. Also, check with your provider about cell phone service in your new location and transfer prescriptions to a pharmacy near your new location.
2. How do I cancel my utilities when moving? To cancel your utilities, contact each provider and provide them with your move-out date. You may need to schedule a final meter reading or equipment return.
3. What should I do the day before moving? The day before moving, check in with the moving company, finish any packing, disassemble large furniture items, set aside snacks, and ensure parking is available for the moving truck.
4. What to do before moving to another state? Before moving to another state, estimate your expenses, tour your new home, choose a moving company, make travel arrangements, announce the move, handle paperwork, sort through belongings, and contact service providers.
5. How can I move to another state without a lot of money? To move to another state without a lot of money, save cash for moving expenses, declutter to reduce the amount to move, pack with free supplies, negotiate a relocation package, ask friends for help, move during winter or weekdays, use public transportation, and haul a cargo trailer.
6. What should I do 2 days before moving? Two days before moving, clear out your fridge and freezer, empty kitchen cupboards, and collect important documents.
7. How much do you tip movers? A good rule of thumb for tipping movers is to tip 10 to 20 percent of the move amount for each mover, or $20 to $30 per person for a local move and $50 per person for long-distance moves.
8. What should I do 30 days before moving? Thirty days before moving, start planning your move, downsize, take inventory, compare moving companies, gather important documents, start packing, change your address, transfer utilities and home services, and provide notice.
9. Should I sell all my stuff before I move? Selling stuff before you move can be a great way to make a fresh start, make extra money, and get rid of unwanted items.
10. Should I get rid of everything before I move? Getting rid of unwanted items before moving can lower transportation costs, reduce clutter, and make unpacking easier.
11. How should you leave your house when moving? When leaving your house, clean up, leave nice touches, inform neighbors, leave fixtures and fittings, and create an inventory.
12. What do I need to do 4 weeks before moving house? Four weeks before moving, check the remover’s contract, make an inventory, purchase packaging, and notify your removals company.
13. How do I keep my moving costs down? To keep moving costs down, pack efficiently, use free supplies, negotiate with moving companies, and ask questions to avoid hidden costs.
14. Is it rude not to tip movers? Although tipping movers is not required, it is customary and appreciated for good service.
15. Is $100 enough to tip movers? A good rule of thumb for tipping movers is to tip 5 to 10 percent of the total move cost, so $100 may be sufficient for a move that costs around $1,000 to $2,000.