Moving is easier with a list. This one covers the calls and updates that matter most, in the order that works well, with the official place to do each one. Start the utility steps one to two weeks before move-in so nothing is interrupted.
Before you move
- Mail: forward it with the U.S. Postal Service change of address. Use the official site only: other sites charge extra to do the same thing.
- Electricity and gas: start service at your new address with San Diego Gas & Electric in San Diego County. In Orange County, natural gas comes from SoCalGas. You may need to verify your identity, so allow a few days.
- Water, sewer and trash: these depend on your city and sometimes your street. Your city's website or your closing paperwork will tell you which company serves the address (see the notes below).
- Internet and cable: ask what is available at the address and book installation early; some buildings and neighborhoods have only one or two choices.
- Homeowners insurance: have it in place before closing. Your lender will ask for proof.
Within a few days of moving
- Driver license, ID and vehicles: California asks you to report a change of address within 10 days. The DMV has an online change of address.
- Voter registration: update it at registertovote.ca.gov.
- Banks, credit cards, employer, insurance and medical providers: send your new address.
- Schools: find your assigned school and the enrollment steps through the district. Boundaries and rules are set by each district. The San Diego County Office of Education lists the county's districts, and the California School Dashboard shows public school data from the state.
Property tax and the home
- The county sends the property tax bill to the owner. If you buy after the assessment date you may also receive a supplemental bill, which is normal after a purchase; try the property tax estimator and see your county's Treasurer-Tax Collector site.
- Keep your closing documents, warranties and inspection reports together in one folder, paper or digital.
- Walk the house with the inspection report in hand and make a list of the first-year repairs and upgrades. The home maintenance planner can turn that list into a monthly amount.
Who serves your address
Utilities and trash are provided by different companies in different cities, and sometimes in different parts of the same city. These are the main providers for the areas we know best, based on the public city and company pages. Confirm yours with the city or the company, since service areas can change. - Chula Vista: water comes from Sweetwater Authority or Otay Water District, depending on the address, and trash from Republic Services under the city's contract. - City of San Diego (including Otay Mesa and Ocean View Hills): start with the Public Utilities Department for water and sewer; Otay Water District serves some parts of Otay Mesa. - Coronado: water is provided by California American Water, and trash by EDCO under the city's contract. - San Clemente: water, sewer and billing are through the City of San Clemente Utilities, and trash is under a city franchise. - Carlsbad and other North County cities: start at the City of Carlsbad site, or your own city's.
Need something else?
Ask Rudy for local recommendations, and for an introduction to a lender if you need one. Book a 15-minute call or use our checklists.
General information, not legal, tax or lending advice. Programs, rules and rates change, so confirm current details with the official source, your lender and your advisors.
More guides
- Orders to Keys: A Timeline for Buying a Home on a PCS Move to San Diego — What to do and when, from the day you get orders to the day you get your keys, with the official VA and military resources for each step.
- The VA Appraisal and Minimum Property Requirements, Explained — What the VA appraisal checks, how it is different from a home inspection, and what happens if a home needs repairs.
- Who Is Exempt From the VA Funding Fee? — The VA funding fee can be rolled into the loan, and some veterans, service members and surviving spouses do not pay it at all.
- VA Loan or Conventional Loan? How to Compare Them — A fair, side-by-side way to compare a VA loan with a conventional loan, and the numbers that matter most.