Just Moved to Seattle? 16-Item First Week Checklist

Call (206) 684-3000 or go to https://www.seattle.gov/city-light/start-or-stop-service. City-owned utility — among the cheapest and greenest power in the US (mostly hydroelectric). Start service online or by phone.

Call 1-888-225-5773 or go to https://www.pse.com/en/start-stop-move/startservice. PSE is SEPARATE from Seattle City Light. Not all Seattle homes use gas — many are all-electric. Check before signing up.

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU): call (206) 684-3000 or visit https://www.seattle.gov/utilities/your-services/accounts-and-payments/start-or-stop-services. SPU handles water, sewer, AND garbage/recycling. One account covers it all. Same phone number as City Light.

Seattle providers: Xfinity/Comcast (most common), CenturyLink/Lumen (fiber in some areas), Wave/Astound (select areas). CenturyLink fiber (where available) offers no data caps. Check availability by address.

Your provider: Seattle Public Utilities (206-684-3000). Look up your pickup day by address — getting it wrong means a week of trash sitting on the curb.

Map the 3 closest grocery stores to your Seattle address. Stock essentials: cleaning supplies, toilet paper, paper towels, basic food, trash bags, and light bulbs. You'll need them before you've fully unpacked.

Find a pharmacy near your Seattle home and transfer any active prescriptions. Most major chains (CVS, Walgreens, etc.) can pull your prescription history with just your name and date of birth.

Read ALL parking signs on your block. Note: street cleaning days/times, permit-only hours, meter hours, and hydrant zones. One missed sign = a $25-55 ticket.

Test every door and window lock. Save these numbers in your phone: building maintenance/super, landlord, 911, Seattle non-emergency (311 or local equivalent), and a 24-hour locksmith.

Take timestamped photos of every room, every scratch, every stain BEFORE unpacking. Email them to yourself AND your landlord. This protects your security deposit when you eventually move out.

Knock on the doors of the units/houses next to you and across the hall. Introduce yourself. Ask: what's the building/block like, where do you park, what should I know?

Most landlords require it, and it's worth it regardless. Typical cost: $15-30/month. Covers theft, fire, water damage to YOUR belongings. Lemonade, State Farm, and Progressive all offer same-day policies.

Put your name on the mailbox. If your building has a package room, get the access code. If not, set up Amazon Locker or a UPS Access Point nearby. File USPS mail forwarding if you haven't already.

Download: your city's parking app (ParkMobile, SpotHero, or similar), transit app (Google Maps or Seattle's local transit app), 311 app for reporting issues, and your utility provider's app for bill pay.

Walk a 10-minute radius from your Seattle home. Note: the closest laundromat (if you don't have in-unit), dry cleaner, hardware store, coffee shop, and ATM. Knowing these saves panic later.

Create recurring phone reminders: trash night (put bins out), recycling night, street cleaning (move car), and rent due date. The first month is when you're most likely to forget.