SmartMove Review: A Practical Tool for Parents Planning a Home Move

Moving home when you have a family adds a whole new level of complexity to what is already considered one of the top five stressful times in life. Moving home isn't a walk in the park — unless it's Jurassic Park, where everything is falling apart, and there's definitely some unquestionable noises you aren't ready to face.

Because when you have kids, you need to get things sorted and set up as fast as possible. Not only for as little disruption as possible, but also for getting life back on track and helping kids feel comfortable from the very beginning.

Now, this is where SmartMove comes in. No, they're not the fairy godmothers of moving and can't do the move and set up for you. But they can help you get the important things in place so you have one less demanding task to sort out.

SmartMove exists for people who are time-poor and want to avoid making bad decisions when they move. They are a one-stop comparison site for sourcing providers for all of your digital services. This is your TV and streaming services, so your internet phone plans and other bundles like smart home installations that our family needs.

Who is SmartMove?

Let's get down to it, because you don't have the time for reading fluff. SmartMove is a comparison; they don't sell any plans themselves but rather pull together data from all major providers, such as Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox, Optimum, Armstrong, Mediacom, and others that might operate in the area you're moving to.

Its focus is on showing availability in the places you need it if your current provider can't move with you — especially for interstate moves.

SmartMove has been in the business for a long time and has nearly 15 years of experience in this field, so they know exactly what to do and, more importantly, what their customer needs from them. And the values and goals remain the same now as they did back in the day, as CableMover: it's to move the uncertainty from one of the most overlooked parts of a move: digital connectivity.

They're not trying to upsell you anything; they're not actually trying to sell you anything at all, just give you a clear, easy way to see your options. That's it. For families who don't have much time and more important things to worry about than scouring the internet for TV packages, etc., this slots into lives and house moves with ease.

And it's not just consumers who have noticed this. The SmartMove model has been featured in publications such as Lifehacker, AOL, the Chicago Tribune, HomeAdvisor, and Yahoo, reinforcing its not a flash in the pan but a genuinely helpful service for everyone, not just families planning a move.

How SmartMove Helps Families

The best way to use SmartMove is prior to moving.

In the first instance, you need to check with your current providers regarding what happens when you move. If they want to move with you and your contract is ending, then this is where you need SmartMove.

All you need to do is head to the website and enter the ZIP code of your new home. Not your current address, but where you're moving to.

SmartMove then shows you which providers serve that area and what type of digital services are available there.

This includes internet options such as cable, fiber, DSL, as well as TV packages, streaming services, and mobile providers too. It's not just the more well-known ones we mentioned earlier; it's any company that can serve you in that location, regardless of size.

And this matters, being able to see your options upfront clearly with pricing, packages, terms and conditions is the perfect way to avoid making last minute mistakes or having to explain to the kids why they can lock themselves in their room to play their favourite game or do their homework (although this likely won't be an issue) as you don't have to explain why they can’t stream Bluey because you don't have the right TV channels as soon as you move in.

By finding out the details upfront with one easy, simple search, you can check out your options and plan your entire digital setup in your new home ahead of time so that you're reducing stress and friction, and you know everything's worse, and you're not scrambling at the last minute.

On top of this, they have a wealth of online resources and guides to help you make the right decision, understand things like contract terms and early settlement fees, and anything else you need to know before choosing new providers.

What Might Be an Issue

Ok, here's the deal: when you use SmartMove's comparison tool, you are choosing from providers. SmartMove in no way offers any packages of its own, nor do you sign any contracts with them. You need to click through to an individual provider who is offering the package to complete your purchase and move forward with the setup. This means they're not responsible for anything that comes next once you sign up.

They don't do installations or deal with cancellations, and they don't set the rates or packages. It's worth knowing this so you know how to deal with things should there be any problems.

What it also can't do is override infrastructure constraints, meaning in some areas, options might be limited.

While it does work extremely well in its lane which is showing you all of your options for choosing new providers and packages, it doesn't handle anything else other than this and this means that at times the information could be outdated or change if the provider changes the deals before the site can catch it or as you click through from SmartMove to the individual provider.

Should You Use SmartMove?

Yes. It's that simple. It's a free-to-use service, you don't lose anything by trying it out, in fact, if anything, you gain time and peace of mind, and also potentially save money and dramas down the line post move. It might be for everyone, but for parents who need to get stuff sorted fast, it really is invaluable.