Every moving home checklist or to-do list includes a line for broadband.

It’s usually near the bottom. Somewhere amongst the “sort once we’re in,” or similarly labelled “a post-move problem” in your phone notes page. We hate to be the ones to tell you, but that’s a little backwards.

Here’s what’s worth sorting first, not last:

1. How do I swap my broadband when I move house? Check your new address is covered, then book the switch before moving day – it’s never automatic and you can do it from your current address.

2. Can I keep my current provider? Only if they cover your new address. Check with them directly.

3. What’s available at my new address? Use our address checker to see if Hyperoptic’s full-fibre network reaches your new address. Availability and speed can change street to street, sometimes door to door.

4. Who can install quickly? If Hyperoptic’s already connected at the property and there’s a compatible router, you could be online within minutes of moving in. If new infrastructure’s needed, it can take 1-4 weeks, so it’s worth checking early.

Installation is one part of the moving day you can book before you’ve even got your keys. If you haven’t got that far, you’re not alone. 79% of people expect their broadband to be working within 2-3 days of moving in, but new infrastructure needing to be fitted can take time.

That’s the gap that catches most people out, not laziness or lack of interest. Wi-Fi already ranks second only to heating and hot water among things that make a new place feel settled (37%).

Miss that window and you’re the one working off a phone hotspot, apologising for your connection, or trying to find the boiler manual online. Catch it early and it’s just one more thing sorted by the time the moving van arrives. It’s not the only thing on the list, but it is one of the easiest to overlook.

What the experts say

We asked a psychologist why that keeps happening.

Dr Fuschia Sirois, Professor of Psychology at Durham University, says: “Broadband is rarely the exciting part of moving house, so it’s not surprising that it’s the first thing to slip down the list. That’s not down to disorganisation, it’s emotional. My research shows procrastination happens when we anticipate a task will be unpleasant, stressful or frustrating. But we often make emotional mountains out of molehills when it comes to such tasks and expect that it will feel worse than it actually turns out to be. So we delay it to avoid that discomfort now, even though we know it’ll cost us later.

With something like setting up broadband, people often picture a drawn-out, complicated process that will be difficult, when in reality it rarely takes as long or is as unpleasant as they’d feared once they sit down to do it. The problem is that we tend to not be very accurate in our emotional predictions. And our overestimation of how stressful or long or difficult setting up broadband will be drives procrastination. So when we avoid setting up broadband we’re actually avoiding these unpleasant anticipated feelings.

But remember that moving is a stressful event, and people are more prone to procrastination when things are stressful. So don’t be too hard on yourself if you find yourself avoiding taking action. Instead, make use of any support available to reduce uncertainty and stress, to take the pressure off you and your future self.”

If Hyperoptic’s already connected and you’ve got a compatible router, you could be online within minutes. Even when an engineer needs to visit, it’s often still done within the hour.

This isn’t just another article about moving house

When we asked movers what would genuinely make broadband easier when moving, 23% said a checklist from their provider. So here we go. This one’s built from the mistakes people have told us they’ve made, not a list of things we think sound obvious in hindsight.

Before anything else: check the actual address, not just your postcode

Speed and availability change from flat to flat, sometimes even door to door. What’s true for your next door neighbours isn’t necessarily true for you.

Our address checker tool tells you straight away which situation you’re in when it comes to Hyperoptic’s full fibre broadband. That could be a property with a socket already in, which moves quickly, or one that needs new infrastructure, which takes longer.

It’s better to know now than find out on move-in day.

Mistakes worth avoiding:

1. Assuming switching broadband or installation happens automatically.
   
   These are totally separate steps. 49% told us being able to book before moving day would have made things easier. This suggests a fair few people don’t know that’s even an option until they’re already unpacking. You can do it from your current address.

2. Taking “already connected” at face value.
   
   A property can be wired for fibre months before the network’s actually live which means you could move in only to find the broadband isn’t actually working yet, even though the sockets are there. Hyperoptic new builds are the exception: we’re live from day one in 99.9% of cases. But where it’s a different network’s infrastructure, it’s always worth checking the actual go-live date rather than assuming that “wired” means “ready”.
   
   46% of people told us knowing a home was already connected before moving in would make the whole process easier, which tells us it’s not just a new build problem.
   
   Ask for the go-live date, if not already live, not just whether the cabling is in. If you’ve moved in somewhere with a Hyperoptic socket already fitted, here’s what that actually means.

If you’re moving into a new build

New builds are in their own category. Being “ready to move into” and “ready to get online” aren’t often the same thing, especially where a developer’s wired for fibre before any network’s actually live.

With Hyperoptic-connected new builds, we’re online from the day the first resident moves in. It’s worth checking specifically whether your development is one of ours.

Ask specifically whether the network’s switching on, not just whether the wiring’s sorted.

If you’re moving with a family

Late August lands right before the new school year. This means that broadband often competes with uniforms, the last-minute school shoe dash and school admin for attention. That is, until it’s needed for a portal login or to keep the household entertained while the house is still in boxes.

If your move lands before the term starts, book the install around the move date, not once term’s already started.

For everything else worth knowing as a new Hyperoptic customer, see our guide to moving to a new home.

If you’re renting, or moving into shared housing

Renters often don’t get much of a say. Broadband is frequently arranged by a landlord, letting agent, or left behind by whoever lived there before. Among those who’d had problems, some said the building restricted which provider they could use.

Ask what’s already connected and whether you can switch it, before you sign on the dotted line. If you’re not sure how long you’ll be there, we’ve got a rolling monthly option too: no long-term commitment, no activation fee.

If you’re a student

September is peak move season for student housing but, unlike a family move, there’s often nobody clearly in charge of sorting broadband before everyone arrives.

Freshers’ week is unlikely to leave much room for a two-week broadband wait. So, if you’re moving into student housing, make sure someone’s ready to book it before term starts, not once the group chat’s already arguing about it.

If you work hybrid, or from home

For many, a move doesn’t come with a break from work. Most hybrid workers are back online within days.

Almost one in three movers (29%) told us they needed broadband for work within 24 hours of moving in and among those who’d had connection issues with their suppliers, 19% said it affected their ability to work.

If you’re moving during or around a working week, build in a buffer by installing a day or two before you’re needed back online for work. Don’t let a potential delay cost you your first morning back at your desk. To find out what else is worth checking, see our working from home checklist here.

What about the rest of the to-do list?

We can tell you what to do about your broadband. Companies such as Just Move In can advise on the rest. Things like what to do about removal vans and redirecting your post are much more their cup of tea.

Just Move In’s guide recommends sorting your mail redirect about a month out, so it’s one less thing competing for attention in the final week. Their guide to moving home has the rest covered.

We’re in your corner.

Check if we’re at your new address here.