The Comparisons Move-In Guide 2026: From Lease to Settled in Days

Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)

• Compare energy providers – set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Comparisons)
• Book internet installation – NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au
• Set up mail redirection – Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month
• Notify important contacts – bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission
• Research local council – Comparisons falls under the local municipality
• Transfer or get Myki – add money before your first commute
• Find a local GP – check nearby clinics are accepting new patients

Moving Day Essentials

• Removalists or DIY – most properties have driveway access for truck loading
• Parking permit for truck – usually not needed – driveway access available
• Meter readings – photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival
• Condition report – if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos
• Keys and access – collect from agent/landlord, test all locks
• Emergency contacts – save local SES and council numbers

First Week in Comparisons

• Update your address on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)
• Register to vote at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)
• Get a parking permit – not usually required – most properties include parking
• Set up bins – check which day is your collection day via council app
• Find your nearest – supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office
• Test your commute – do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day

Local Services to Set Up

Cost of Moving to Comparisons

Tips from Comparisons Locals

1. Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations
2. Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes
3. Download the council’s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events

For a full guide to what Comparisons is like, see our honest guide and cost of living breakdown.

Information current as of April 2026. Council boundaries, services, and fees may change. Check your specific council website for the latest.

Data-Backed Provider Comparison

For a Melbourne move, compare electricity and gas before you book the connection. Victorian Energy Compare reports that users across 2025 could save an average of $170 by switching to a better offer, and the comparison takes about 10 minutes with a recent bill or estimated usage.

Check at least 3 retailers: AGL, Origin and EnergyAustralia, then add smaller retailers such as Red Energy, Alinta, Momentum or Simply Energy. Compare the daily supply charge, electricity c/kWh, gas c/MJ, solar feed-in tariff if relevant, and any pay-on-time or direct-debit conditions.

Melbourne homes can sit in different electricity distribution zones, so the same retailer may price differently between inner-city apartments, eastern suburbs and outer growth areas. If you have a prior electricity bill, use the 10- or 11-digit NMI to get a more accurate comparison. If you do not, estimate usage conservatively: apartments often use less heating and cooling than detached houses, while gas-ducted houses can cost more in winter.

Step-By-Step Moving Checklist

• 2-4 weeks out: Compare electricity and gas offers using your current bill, new address and expected move-in date.
• Shortlist 2-3 plans: Do not choose on headline discount alone. Check whether the discount depends on direct debit, email billing or paying before the due date.
• Ask for the offer summary: Confirm the daily charge, usage rates, contract terms, connection/disconnection fees and cooling-off rights.
• Book the connection: Aim for at least 3 business days before move-in, especially if the property has been vacant or the meter needs access.
• Confirm gas separately: Electricity and gas may have different distributors, retailers and start dates.
• On key day: Photograph the electricity meter, gas meter and water meter if accessible.
• After first bill: Check the bill against the quoted offer and compare again if usage is higher than expected.

Melbourne Comparison Priorities

If you are moving into an apartment, ask whether the building is on an embedded network. Some Melbourne apartment buildings have limited retailer choice, so the best comparison may be between the embedded rate, the Victorian Default Offer benchmark and any available exemption options.

If you are moving into a house, compare heating costs first. A gas-heated three-bedroom house can have very different winter bills from an all-electric apartment, even at the same weekly rent. Families working from home should compare peak, off-peak and controlled-load rates, not only the single headline rate.

For renters, use the move as a reset point. Victorian bills must show a Best Offer Notice every 3 months for electricity and every 4 months for gas, so keep the first bill and re-check before winter.

Local Tips

• Book internet separately from energy; NBN appointments can take longer than electricity transfers.
• If the property has solar, compare solar feed-in tariffs as well as usage rates.
• Avoid signing through a removalist or agent referral without checking whether the plan is competitive.
• Keep screenshots of quoted rates until the first bill arrives.
• If you change provider after signing, electricity or gas supply should not be interrupted.

FAQ

Q: Should I stay with my current provider when moving in Melbourne? A: Only if its new-address offer is competitive. Your current plan may move with you, but the new property’s distribution zone and meter type can change the real cost.

Q: When should I connect electricity and gas before moving day? A: Start the process 2-4 weeks out and book the connection at least 3 business days before move-in. Allow longer if the property is vacant, newly built or hard to access.

Q: Is the cheapest plan always the best choice? A: No. Check supply charges, usage rates, discount conditions, billing method, exit fees and whether prices are fixed or variable.

Source: Victorian Government — Compare energy offers, 2026