Congrats on getting a new house! While packing everything up and moving to a new place is an exciting experience, it can be a scary one at the same time. The biggest part about moving is setting up utilities. It’s always a better idea to have them set up and running before you move into your new house, rather than having to spend even a day without them.
We recommend applying for internet and utility services at least two weeks before your move-in date.
However, it’s also important not to rush into it. You might not get the same quality of service from your current provider in the area you’re moving to. This is why it’s important to do proper research before you decide to set up your internet in your new house.
Let’s dive right into how you should plan your digital move and deal with the internet installation process.
Considering Which Internet Provider to Use
When you move, you have two options: either you can stick to your current internet provider or you can start over with a new one.
Should I Stick to My Current Provider?
The answer generally depends on who your current internet provider is and if you can get a better deal with a new provider.
If your current provider is already giving you a good deal for your internet, which other providers can beat, then it makes more sense to stick to your current provider. That is, if their internet service is available in the new location.
However, if you can find a better deal with another internet provider, then it’s a better idea to switch to a new one. Just make sure you read some reviews or ask around about their services from your neighbors.
If your current internet provider has you locked in with a contract, some internet providers might help you buy out of them.
What Should I Look For in an Internet Service Provider?
Here are some of the factors you should consider when making your decision of looking for an internet service provider:
- Availability: The most important thing to consider is whether your current ISP provides internet services in the area you’re moving to. Chances are that they don’t offer internet services in the area. This means you’ll have to check out the internet providers that are offering their service in that area.
- Cost & Contracts: If you’re moving to a place for just a year, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to sign up with an internet provider that requires a two-year contract, since some of them charge an early termination fee. Not only that, you don’t want to pay a lot of money for a mediocre internet connection. We recommend checking out plans before you make a final decision.
- Speed & Bandwidth: It’s important to weigh the bandwidth and speed on offer with the ISP. If you have a lot of devices at home that are going to utilize your WiFi at the same time, it’s better to get an internet connection with more bandwidth. If you download and upload a lot of files at the same time then it makes sense to get an internet connection with higher speeds.
Streamlining the Internet Setup Process
Now that you’ve decided which internet provider to go with, it might be time to apply for a connection.
As we stated earlier, the best time to apply for a new internet connection is around two weeks before the moving day.
When you apply for an internet service with your preferred provider, you’re likely going to get all the needed equipment such as the router and the wireless gateway. A technician may visit your house to install the cables and set up your internet.
A handful of ISPs may drop off the necessary equipment over to your house. These are easy to set up and can be done in a couple of minutes. For instance, when you sign up for Xfinity Internet, you have the option to choose your preferred method of installation i.e. technician’s help or DIY.
Testing Your Internet and Troubleshooting Common Issues
Once you have your brand new shiny router setup, celebrate a bit, but not too much. We’re not done yet. There are still a few things you need to make sure that your network is smooth and secure.
- Perform an Internet Speed Test
The first thing you need to do when you connect to your WiFi network is to perform a speed test. You can do this in multiple ways. Sites like Speedtest, Fast, and CloudFlare allow you to do an in-depth speed test.
These tests barely take a minute and can be done on most devices you own. Try doing these tests multiple times a day to see if the internet speeds get clogged up at a certain time of day.
- Set up a Strong Password
While your Ethernet port runs straight from your router to your computer, WiFi doesn’t work the same way.
Your WiFi’s signals travel in all directions, which means that anyone in range can try to connect to your network. To make sure your network is secure, set up a strong WiFi password that contains multiple characters, numbers, and letters.
Try not to reuse any old passwords and don’t use any information that can be guessed easily.
- Test Out Your WiFi in Multiple Rooms
This is important. Oftentimes, people tend to set up their router in the kitchen or bedroom. While this can be a smart approach to get the best WiFi signals in an area where you want to have the best signals, it isn’t the best if you want to get signals in all parts of your house.
WiFi routers have a limited signal range, which is usually less than the area covered by a normal house in the U.S. Because of this, we recommend setting up your router in the middle of the house, which is usually the living room.
Once you set up your internet, test it out from various rooms in your house to see if you’re getting good internet speeds in all areas of your house.
Wrapping Up – Bonus Tip
Applying for internet installation two weeks before the date you move in is more than enough time to make sure that your internet is set up and ready to go, the day you move in.
While it’s uncommon, your preferred ISP might delay the installation of your internet connection due to unforeseen circumstances. On the off chance that you might face this unexpected hurdle, we recommend contacting the ISP’s customer service to check up on the status of your connection.
A temporary solution is getting mobile internet so you can have internet access, even in your new home, if do you face any delays.
Finally, when your internet is all set up in your new home, do make sure to check if your old equipment works with your new internet connection. If anything goes wrong, you can always rely on customer service to help you out with any of your concerns.