After closing, the first week is utilities

Closing on your DR home is one thing. Living in it requires a half-dozen separate utility setups. None are particularly difficult, but the sequence matters and a few common mistakes cost real money.

Electricity

Two scenarios depending on the property:

Condo in a managed building: Electricity is in the HOA's name. You pay through monthly HOA fees, or the condo association invoices each unit. Setup: nothing for you to do, just confirm the meter reading at closing.

Single-family home or independent unit: Account transfer needed. The seller or developer signs over with Edenorte/Edesur (varies by region). Take your Title and ID. Process: 1-3 business days, no fee.

The reality: DR has frequent outages, especially outside Punta Cana/Bávaro core. A generator and inverter are standard for non-resort properties. Budget $3,000-$8,000 for a quality inverter system if not already installed.

Water

Most coastal DR properties run on:

• Municipal water (intermittent, low pressure)
• Building cistern (refilled by truck $80-$150 per refill, lasts 7-14 days for a 2-person home)
• Bottled water for drinking (everyone does this, regardless of source)

Confirm at closing: cistern capacity, pump status, water filter condition. Budget $400-$800/year for cistern refills if you're not on reliable municipal service.

Internet

The single biggest quality-of-life utility. Three carriers cover most of DR:

• Altice/Claro: Largest network, fiber in major areas. ~$50-$80/month for 200-500 Mbps fiber.
• Wind: Strong in north coast and Las Terrenas. Comparable pricing.
• Tricom/Viva: Older copper in some areas.

Fiber to your unit is the gold standard. Confirm before you sign anything if remote work is a priority. Some buildings only have shared copper that maxes out at 30-50 Mbps.

Gas

Propane for cooking and water heating. Delivered by tank exchange. Cost: $25-$45 per 25-pound tank, lasts a 2-person household 4-8 weeks. No piped natural gas in most DR residential markets.

Mobile phone

Get a DR SIM at the airport or any Claro/Altice store. $15-$30/month for unlimited local + 30 GB data. Worth it from day one.

The order of operations

Week 1 post-closing:

1. Verify electricity transfer in your name (or HOA confirmation)
2. Check cistern level and inspect water system
3. Order internet installation (1-2 week lead time often)
4. Buy propane tanks if needed
5. Get local SIM card

If you're remote, your DR attorney or broker can handle this. We coordinate it for clients who close from outside the country.