Homeowners Insurance & Utility Setup

The insurance and utility instructions are now together in one guide, including service start dates, the insurance binder checklist, provider links, and move-in preparations.

Open the combined insurance and utility setup guide

Return to Buyer Dashboard

Homeowner's Insurance and Utilities Setup

Before closing, your lender and closing attorney may need proof of homeowner's insurance, and you need utilities ready for possession. Use this page to start insurance early, avoid lender delays, and confirm utility timing before closing day.

DUFFY Buyer Protection Move

Mark this step complete after you have taken the action. If anything feels unclear, return to the dashboard and contact DUFFY before guessing. This is how the system keeps your money, deadlines, and leverage protected.

Homeowners Insurance & Utility Setup

Prepare your insurance and connect services for your new home before move-in. Keep the provider names, start dates, confirmation numbers, and appointment details together.

Back to Buyer Dashboard

Buyer action: connect or transfer service into your name. Coordinate start dates with the seller, builder, and closing team so services remain on for the final walkthrough and your move.

Homeowners insurance

  • Request your homeowners insurance quote before closing week.
  • Confirm the policy's effective date with your insurer and lender.
  • Send the insurance binder to your lender and confirm it has been received.

Identify and contact your providers

The providers depend on the property address. Ask the seller, builder, HOA, city, or county which providers serve the home.

  • Electricity: confirm the provider, start date, account requirements, and any deposit.
  • Gas: confirm the provider, activation timing, and whether an appointment is required.
  • Water and sewer: check city, county, municipal, or community billing and whether these services are billed together.
  • Trash and recycling: confirm whether service is municipal, private, or HOA-managed, plus pickup days and container requirements.
  • Internet: schedule installation early, especially if work, school, or home security depends on it.
  • Security and smart-home systems: arrange the transfer of accounts, access devices, and codes.

Provider starting points: Georgia Power · Atlanta Gas Light · Xfinity. Confirm which companies actually serve your address.

When to arrange service

  1. About two weeks before closing: identify providers, gather account requirements, request insurance, and check scheduling windows.
  2. About one week before closing: arrange start dates and any gas or internet appointments. Confirm insurance documents with your lender.
  3. At closing: confirm the actual closing and possession timing before finalizing changes that depend on ownership.
  4. At move-in: check electricity, water, HVAC, internet, trash pickup, keys, gate cards, and security access.

Information to have ready

  • The property address as each provider uses it.
  • Closing date, possession date, and requested service start date.
  • Provider names and account setup requirements.
  • Identification, contact information, payment method, and required deposits.
  • HOA details, mailbox keys, gate cards, alarm codes, and smart-home instructions.

New construction

Ask the builder and closing team which services are ready and which need activation. Confirm meter status, temporary service arrangements, the address used by providers, and any required appointments.

Your setup checklist

Related resources

Original Utilities File

Final Walkthrough Checklist — Take Pictures to Prove Condition

Title Insurance

Return to Buyer Dashboard

Contractor playbook

What most buyers do vs. how a DUFFY buyer handles it.

Most buyers ask for a verbal or vague text estimate.

DUFFY buyers demand a formal itemized PDF quote broken down by labor, materials, scope, and timing.

A formal PDF estimate can support your Amendment to Address Defects and gives the seller less room to argue the price.

Most buyers use a contractor suggested by the seller or listing agent.

DUFFY buyers hire an independent professional from the DUFFY Preferred Vendor Shortlist.

The seller's contractor has incentive to make the repair sound cheap and minor. Your contractor protects your equity.

Most buyers agree to a massive upfront deposit just to get an estimate on paper.

DUFFY buyers work with reputable trades who provide free or low-cost diagnostic quotes for pending buyers.

This keeps your out-of-pocket cash protected before you officially own the home.