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A move is not complete when the last box enters the apartment. Power, water responsibility, mail, unit number, keys, fobs, parking credentials, and first-night access must also line up. Confirm each handoff with the organization that controls it.
Direct answer: Verify the exact service address and unit, ask the property which utilities the resident controls, schedule eligible CPS Energy or SAWS changes through their official processes, submit any USPS change of address, and document every key, fob, remote, and parking credential. Keep a first-night box and property contact outside the moving load.
Short answer: what should be completed before apartment moving day?
Confirm the full postal and service address, including unit and any directional details. Ask the property which utilities are individually metered, billed by management, included in rent, or handled by another provider. Existing CPS Energy customers can use the utility's moving process for eligible transfers, and SAWS provides start, stop, and transfer options for qualifying accounts. Not every apartment resident has a direct SAWS account, so verify responsibility before opening or closing service. USPS provides online and in-person change-of-address methods, but mail forwarding does not update every bank, employer, subscription, or government record. Inventory keys, fobs, garage remotes, mailbox keys, parking credentials, and access apps. Keep confirmations and first-night essentials with the resident instead of loading them deep in the truck.
Confirm the exact address and utility responsibility
Write the address exactly as the property and postal records use it. Include:
- street number and name;
- directional prefix or suffix;
- building number;
- apartment or unit;
- city, state, and ZIP Code;
- property name only when useful.
Then ask which party controls electricity, gas, water, sewer, trash, internet, and any building access service. Do not assume CPS Energy or SAWS directly bills every unit.
Schedule eligible utility changes
CPS Energy publishes a moving page for starting or transferring qualifying service. SAWS publishes start, stop, and transfer options for qualifying accounts. Use those official processes and keep confirmation numbers private.
Create a handoff table:
| Service | Current address action | New address action | Confirmation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity or gas | Stop or transfer if resident-controlled | Start or transfer | Date and account confirmation |
| Water | Confirm whether resident has a direct account | Confirm property or SAWS responsibility | Date and confirmation |
| Internet | Return or move equipment as required | Confirm install and access | Appointment |
| Building services | Remove resident access when lease requires | Activate keys, fobs, apps, or parking | Property confirmation |
Do not schedule a technician in the loading path at the same time as the move unless the property approves the overlap.
Inventory keys and access credentials
List every:
- unit key;
- mailbox key;
- building fob;
- garage remote;
- parking permit;
- storage key;
- amenity credential;
- access app or digital invite.
At the old property, get return instructions and proof. At the new property, test access before the moving vehicle arrives. A resident fob may not open the service entrance or elevator controls.
Update mail and important senders
USPS explains how to submit a change of address, but forwarding is not a complete account-update service. Separately update organizations that need the new address, such as financial accounts, insurance, employers, licenses, subscriptions, and medical providers.
Use only official websites and protect personal information. Do not place identity documents, account numbers, or mail-forwarding confirmations in a box handled by others.
Pack a first-night and access kit
Keep this kit with the resident:
- identification and lease contact;
- phone and charger;
- medications;
- keys, fobs, and remotes;
- utility and internet confirmations;
- water and basic food;
- bedding and toiletries;
- essential child or pet items;
- a labeled change of clothes;
- building and mover contacts.
If packing support is needed, define the first-night kit as resident-controlled before packing services begin.
Connect the handoff to the move plan
Use the UTSA-area checklist for lease-window concentration and the renter move-out condition checklist for the old unit. The broader managed-building guide covers elevators, loading, and property contacts.
Run a first-entry readiness check
Before the moving vehicle leaves pickup, confirm that the receiving person can enter the destination and direct the first items. A utility confirmation email does not prove that every service is active at the exact unit, and possession of one key does not prove that every gate, garage, elevator, or interior door will open.
Check the destination in this order:
- Verify the street address, building, and unit on the lease or property record.
- Confirm which utilities the resident controls and which the property provides.
- Confirm the current start date and account status with each responsible provider.
- Test the apartment key, fob, call box, gate, garage remote, and parking credential.
- Confirm the approved unloading entrance and property contact.
- Keep identity documents, confirmations, devices, and first-night supplies with the resident.
- Label the first rooms needed at delivery.
- Record every credential returned at the old property and received at the new one.
If a service or access device fails, contact the organization that controls it. The mover should not troubleshoot a utility account, create an unapproved entrance, or hold private credentials longer than the agreed plan requires. Keep account numbers and personal documents out of shared moving notes.
Mail forwarding is a separate process from updating banks, insurers, employers, government agencies, subscriptions, and other important senders. Use the USPS process for forwarding, then update priority accounts directly. Keep a dated private checklist so the apartment handoff is complete after the boxes are delivered.
Where Pro Alliance fits
Pro Alliance Services can review the moving scope after receiving the addresses, date, inventory, property access, and requested services. Utility, mail, lease, and account changes remain the resident's responsibility unless a separate verified scope says otherwise. Review apartment moving services or request an estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Does every San Antonio apartment use CPS Energy and SAWS in the resident's name?
No. Provider and billing responsibility vary by address and property. Ask management and verify with the utility.
Does USPS forwarding update all of my accounts?
No. Update important senders and account providers separately.
Should keys and identity documents go on the moving truck?
Keep essential keys, credentials, identification, and confirmations with the resident.
When should I test the new fob or garage remote?
Test access before the moving vehicle arrives, while the property office or contact can still resolve a problem.
What should I do if a utility confirmation does not match the exact unit?
Contact the responsible provider or property before relying on it. Verify the service address, unit, start date, and account status through the official channel.