Moving house is a challenge, but also an opportunity. You have the challenge of packing up your life and transporting it to a new location. You also have the opportunity to get a better deal on your broadband and other utilities.
Why you should review your broadband contract when moving house
Broadband may be one of those expenses that you receive but don’t really notice. It’s not as headline-grabbing as other things, such as water and power bill payments, however, this isn’t something we should take lightly!
Maintaining your digital life requires constant attention because everything from email accounts to online shopping can become unreliable without maintenance – which could mean missing out on important notifications or deadlines entirely if they’re not restored quickly enough.
Millions of households in the UK are paying more than they should for broadband because they signed up for a deal and have just left it running.
Without the headlines or attention in the news, broadband becomes the one outgoing that we tend to forget. We sign up to a deal, pay each month, and are rarely conscious of it.
The internet is always there and always in use but is now something we take for granted.
Moving home is the reminder we need to check what we’re paying, check available speeds and negotiate a much better deal.
Broadband and moving house
Arranging broadband when you’re moving house is relatively simple as long as you remember a few key things:
Don’t leave it to the last minute – Most providers require between 14-30 days’ notice for a move. The longer the better.
Check what’s available at your new address – Use a postcode checker to see what’s available at your new property. Then you can compare what you have now with what’s currently available.
Decide early on whether you want more speed or lower bills – Some households use the internet more than others. Generally, the more people in the property, the faster the broadband you need. It isn’t always the case though, so assess your needs before signing up.
Remember that ‘free’ gifts aren’t always free – Many providers use incentives to attract new customers. Make sure to check the prices of broadband deals with and without ‘free’ gifts as they are rarely free of charge.
Staying with your current provider
If your current broadband provider offers services at your new address, you can stay with them if you like.
This is useful if you’re still within the fixed period of your contract. The move can form part of the contract and your provider will simply switch your connection to your new address.
You can also negotiate a good deal on a new contract. Providers are keener than ever to retain customers so a deal could definitely be had.
Give the provider plenty of notice, book the installation for the day after moving day and everything should be fine.