Don't Move Until You Read This: The Internet and Phone Checklist That Saves Movers Hundreds

Moving is a masterclass in hidden costs. The truck, the boxes, the pizza bribes for friends — you budget for those. What blindsides people is the telecom stuff: the $200 early termination fee, the $120 charged for a router you forgot to return, the three weeks at the new place with no internet because you called too late.

Here's how to dodge all of it, with a timeline you can actually follow.

6–4 Weeks Out: Do Your Recon

Check availability at the new address first. This is the big one. The internet provider you love may not serve your new neighborhood — or may offer a fraction of the speed. Use provider lookup tools or call directly with the full new address (not just the ZIP code; availability can change street to street).

Dig up your current contracts. Find out:

• When your term ends (if ever)
• What the early termination fee (ETF) actually is
• What equipment you're on the hook to return

Pro tip: if your contract is ending within your move window, schedule your cancellation for after the term date and the ETF vanishes.

Ask about moving your service. Most major ISPs will transfer service to a new address, often waiving installation fees or ETFs entirely. This is almost always cheaper than cancel-and-restart — but only if the new address is in their footprint.

3–2 Weeks Out: Make the Calls

Schedule the transfer or cancellation. Give your current provider a hard date tied to your move-out. Canceling too early means paying for dead service; too late means paying for internet at a place you don't live.

Order new service 2–3 weeks ahead. Installation appointments in busy markets can book out weeks. Getting on the schedule early is the difference between Wi-Fi on day one and a frustrating dead zone.

Negotiate. Mention you're moving and considering competitors. Retention departments can waive transfer fees, throw in free months, or upgrade your speed. It costs them far less to keep you than to win you back.

The Equipment Return Trap

This is where movers bleed money. ISPs routinely charge $100–$300 for unreturned gateways, satellite dishes, and DVR boxes. Rules to live by:

1. Get a return receipt or tracking number for everything you send back.
2. Use the provider's official return method (prepaid boxes, UPS/ FedEx drop-off, or store return) — not a random mailer.
3. Photograph everything before it goes in the box.
4. Check your final bill and dispute any equipment charge with your proof in hand.

Watch for New-Address Surprises

Deposits. New customers — or customers with thin credit at a new address — can be asked for $50–$100+ deposits. Sometimes these are waivable with autopay enrollment. Ask.

Installation fees. New construction or homes without existing hookups may need a tech visit costing $50–$100. Promotions often waive these — but usually only if you ask on the phone, not online.

Promotional pricing resets. If you transfer service, your old promo rate may evaporate. Confirm your new monthly rate in writing (email confirmation counts) before the truck rolls.

Phone numbers. Want to keep your landline or home phone number? Port it to a mobile carrier before canceling — once the account closes, the number is usually gone for good.

Move Week: The Final Sweep

• Photograph all equipment and cables before disconnecting.
• Return every device, every remote, every power cord.
• Screenshot or save your final confirmation emails.
• Check your statement 30–45 days later for a final bill — and dispute anything that smells like a phantom charge.

The Payoff

Handled well, a move can actually lower your telecom bills — new-customer promotions at your new address can beat the rates you've been paying for years. Handled badly, it's $500 in fees, dead-zone weeks, and a collections notice for a router you never knew you owed.

Six weeks of planning. One checklist. Hundreds saved. That's a move worth making.