Who Turned Off The Lights!?

It sounds like the plot to a comedy movie, like 'Home Alone'. You forget something when everyone is already out of the house and on the road but you just can't put your finger on it until much later, then panic sets in when it is remembered. You've forgotten to turn off the utilities and you know there'll be an unnecessary bill coming with your name on it.

Home Alone saw the family's youngest being left behind to fend for himself, with hilarious consequences. It was a nice movie with plenty of laughs but if you've left the electricity on, or even gas boiler or water heater on, then it's certain you won't be laughing. If you're moving a few blocks away, it's an inconvenience, but if your moving a state away or a few hundred miles, then it can be a real problem. That's why including utilities matters on your checklists is useful.

The thing is that it's very easy to get lost in the wrapping and packing of moving, and forget the extra things that need to be looked after. That's why to see it included on a list can help you to take care of it.

There are two key things to remember: Contact and Timing.

You need to make contact with all of your utility service providers in plenty of time - usually around a month before the actual move. You'll need to give them the exact date you want your service to be cut off, and a final bill will need to be forwarded to your new address. You might also need to arrange to have your utilities turned on at your new address.

Timing is vital because you don't want your electricity or water services turned off three days before your move. Remember, you're going to want that last cup of coffee or last lunch in your former home before finally leaving. That's why you tell your service providers to cut their services off at, say, midnight on the final day. This gives you some room to manoeuvre should there be a delay of any sort.

I haven't actually come across a client that forgot to turn off all of the utilities yet. Generally, the guys working at the Sage Customer Service desks make a point of reminding them that it is one of the things that need to be done. However, it does happen - and understandably so.

Still, if you are moving home (or even office), don't be caught when someone asks: "Who turned off the lights?"