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Blog The Ultimate Moving House Internet Checklist

The Ultimate Moving House Internet Checklist (Without the Stress)

Moving house has a talent for turning small tasks into a full-scale operation. Between keys, removalists, utilities and address changes, internet setup is easy to leave until the last minute. That is usually when the stress begins: the new address has a different connection type, the nbn box is missing, a technician is required, or the router has disappeared into a box labelled “miscellaneous”.

Most moving house internet problems are avoidable with a little planning. The new property is a new service address, even when you stay with the same provider. Availability, network technology, equipment and activation time can differ. Occom’s view is simple: moving is stressful enough, and your internet should not add another layer of confusion. 

Your Moving House Internet Checklist at a Glance

Use this checklist as a practical timeline rather than another moving-day chore list. The exact process depends on the property and network, but these steps cover the issues that most often delay a connection.
  1. Four weeks before moving: check the new address and identify the available network.
  2. Two to four weeks before moving: compare the plan, speed tier and equipment requirements.
  3. One to two weeks before moving: contact your provider and confirm the activation or installation date. 
  4. Before packing: separate your own router and cables from nbn supplied equipment.
  5. On moving day: leave the nbn connection equipment at the old property and keep your own equipment accessible.
  6. After moving in: connect, test and report missing equipment or faults promptly.
moving and internet connection checklist

Four Weeks Before Moving: Check the New Address

Do not assume the internet available at your current home will be identical at the new one. Enter the complete address, including the unit number, into the nbn address checker and your provider’s address checker. This can show whether the property is serviceable, the network technology in use and which speed tiers may be available.
The technology matters because the setup can change. Fibre to the Premises, Hybrid Fibre Coaxial and Fibre to the Curb normally use nbn supplied connection equipment inside the property, with your router connected to that equipment. Fibre to the Node and Fibre to the Building generally use the telephone wall socket and require a compatible VDSL modem router. Private fibre networks may use different equipment and ordering processes. st.
Check early if the address is a new development, granny flat, subdivision or apartment with restricted communications access. Extra information, building access, landlord approval or infrastructure work may be required.
Check Occom Plans at Your New Address

Review the Plan and the Home Setup Separately

A move is a good time to review whether your plan still fits. A smaller household may need less capacity, while a larger home may need better Wi-Fi coverage even when the speed tier is suitable. Consider users, work-from-home needs, streaming, gaming and connected devices.

Do not choose a faster plan simply because the new home is larger. Plan speed and Wi-Fi coverage solve different problems. A higher speed tier increases the capacity delivered to the premises, while good router placement, suitable hardware, Ethernet or a properly planned mesh system improves coverage inside the home. Check both before spending more.

One to Two Weeks before moving: book the connection

Contact your provider as soon as the moving date is reasonably firm. nbn’s moving home guide recommends planning more than four weeks ahead where possible, while Occom recommends contacting the team at least one to two weeks before the move. Earlier notice gives everyone more room if a technician, replacement connection box or building appointment is required.

Provide the full new address, preferred connection date, access details and a reliable mobile number. Ask whether the service can be activated remotely or whether someone over 18 must be present for an appointment. Confirm the expected timeframe in writing and keep the order reference. If uninterrupted internet is essential for work or study, consider a short overlap between the old and new services rather than cancelling the old connection too early.

Confirm whether the plan can be transferred or a new order is required, and ask about relocation, activation, equipment, contract and cancellation terms. A transfer can still need different hardware when the network changes.

What stays at the old property, and what comes with you?

The easiest rule is this: leave nbn supplied equipment at the property and take equipment that belongs to you. nbn advises movers to leave the nbn box behind because connection boxes, connection devices, power adaptors and associated cables are registered to the address. They are there for the next resident and may not work at your new home.
Take your own modem, router, mesh units, boosters, Ethernet cables and power supplies unless instructed otherwise. Label the cables and keep the router in a clearly marked box, not at the bottom of the truck. Moving-day archaeology is not a hobby.
FTTN and FTTB properties usually do not have an nbn connection box, so there may be nothing to leave behind apart from fixed cabling. If you accidentally take nbn supplied equipment, follow nbn’s return instructions. If the new property should have an nbn box but it is missing, contact your internet provider rather than buying random replacement equipment.

Moving day: keep the internet equipment out of the mystery box

Keep the technical part of moving day boring. Boring is excellent. Before leaving the old property and after arriving at the new one, run through these checks:
  • Photograph the old connection setup before unplugging your own router.
  • Leave all nbn supplied equipment, power adaptors and fixed cables at the old address.
  • Keep your router, modem router, mesh units and labelled cables with you.
  • Locate the connection box, telephone socket or communications cabinet before unpacking everything.
  • Keep mobile data or another backup option available if the connection is delayed.
  • If it is unsafe to speak, listen to the operator and use the “press 55” option when instructed.

First Day in the New Home: Connect, Test and Optimise

At the new property, connect the equipment according to the network type and the instructions from your provider. Allow the service and router time to start fully. Check the indicator lights, then test one device close to the router. If possible, run a wired Ethernet test first because it separates the internet service from Wi-Fi coverage inside the home.
Once the service is working, place the router in a raised, open and reasonably central position. Avoid cupboards, floors, metal cabinets and spaces behind televisions. Test the rooms where people will actually work, study, stream or game. A connection that works beside the router but struggles in a distant bedroom is usually a Wi-Fi coverage issue, not proof that the service itself has failed.
If nothing connects, check power, cables and the selected router port before repeatedly restarting equipment. Record the light pattern and any error message, then contact the provider. If an nbn supplied device is missing or damaged, the provider can arrange the next step with nbn.
step by step wi‑fi connection guide

Special situations that need extra planning

Some homes need extra planning. Raise these points with your provider before the move rather than discovering them after the boxes arrive:

  • Renters: confirm whether installation, drilling or equipment relocation requires landlord or property-manager approval.
  • Apartments: ask about building access, communications rooms, concierge procedures and appointment restrictions.
  • New developments: check whether the address is registered and ready for connection.
  • Medical alarms and priority services: confirm compatibility,power and backup arrangements before disconnecting anything. 
  • Home phone, security and smart-home equipment: confirm whether each service needs reconfiguration. 
  • Work and study: keep a charged mobile phone, hotspot option or another temporary connection available for essential tasks. 

Should you Transfer your Service or Switch Providers?

Staying with the same provider can reduce administration, but it is not automatically the best or fastest option at every address. Switching can make sense when the current provider cannot service the new property, the available technology changes, the plan no longer suits the household, or the support and relocation process is unclear.

Compare the total position, not only the promotional monthly price. Check service availability, typical evening speed information, equipment compatibility, activation timing, relocation costs, contract notice, cancellation terms and support access. Review your current agreement before cancelling. The ACCC’s contracts guidance is a useful reminder that terms and exit conditions matter, especially when a move happens during a fixed term.

The no-stress rule
Plan first, disconnect second. Check the new address, confirm the order and connection date, identify the equipment you need, and keep a temporary backup available. The few minutes spent confirming these details can prevent days without internet.

How Occom can Help with your Move

Occom can help existing and new customers check service availability, network type, plan suitability and router compatibility at the new address. The Occom Help Centre advises customers to contact Occom one to two weeks before moving. Where the required equipment is already installed, remote activation may be possible; where it is not, the team can explain the setup steps and likely timeline.

For customers who move more often, Occom’s Pack & Plug Premium Moving Service is designed to make eligible 24-month plans more portable across nbn and several private fibre networks. The current service includes pre-configured Occom hardware and access to support when the new property has connection complications. Eligibility, coverage, pricing and terms should be confirmed when ordering.

The point is not to pretend every move is identical. It is to give you a clear path, realistic expectations and a real person to contact when the property does not match the neat diagram. Visit the Occom Contact Us page, call 1300 299 999 or email support@occom.com.au. Support is available daily from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm AEST, including weekends and public holidays.

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Frequently asked questions
How early should I organise internet before moving house?
Start around four weeks before moving where possible. Contact Occom at least one to two weeks before the move so the new address, network, equipment and connection date can be checked.

No. Leave nbn supplied connection boxes, power adaptors and associated cables at the old property. They are registered to that address and are needed by the next resident.

Yes. Take equipment that belongs to you, including your router or modem router, mesh units, boosters and their power supplies. Confirm that the equipment is compatible with the connection type at the new address.
Explore Occom NBN Plans
Not always. The new home may use a different network or technology, and the same speed tier may not be available. Check the address and confirm plan compatibility before moving.
Contact your internet provider. If nbn equipment should be present but has been removed, the provider can arrange replacement or installation and explain any impact on the connection date.
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