Aside from paying the bill, how often do you actually think about your Utilities providers?
Where I used to live, they were virtually monopolies. So I naturally took them for granted.
There was only one legal source for power, water/sewer, and trash service – zero alternative choices.
Then I started in Real Estate and learned how crazy these options can be.
You might get lucky and wind up the same ones. Doubtful, but it’s possible!
If you are also selling a property, expect potential Buyers to ask you about your Utilities too.
Make a list right now.
Or just fill out the form here.
Super-double-bonus points if you can provide an average monthly expenditure per provider. Buyers get warm fuzzies over that level of information.
Every neighborhood can have different utilities.
Sometimes there are a wide a variety of options – one area even has different sewer companies!
So it makes sense to consider early what changes you might need to make.
We will be requesting the Utilities information from the Listing Agent on any property we make an offer on.
I made it easy for them too – a simple online form. The same one linked above.
Maybe your Future Home (see what I did there?) has the same power company available. You can probably transfer the service relatively easily.
But what if it’s totally different than your current providers?
Starting new utilities may require a credit check.
That’s normally fine… unless you are getting a loan to finance your home purchase. Especially if your numbers are really tight.
That small inquiry can raise some eyebrows with your financing.
So, as soon as we have an accepted offer, we will run down the new-to-you utilities providers.
Then you should get that process started ASAP.
Yes, you should inform your lender if this is the case. Just pop over to
<– 💬 Lender Messaging
Feel free to copy this text:
Our new Electric Company, Withlacoochee Electric Cooperative (utility & company name if possible) requires a credit check before they can schedule the service to start on or around our Closing Date. I want to set this up now, but I want you to be aware that they will be pulling my credit. Please let me know if that is going to cause any problems with my loan. If so, what are my other options? Thanks!
As much as I would like to include a comprehensive list of all of the possible utilities providers in the Greater Tampa Bay, it’s just too extensive.
Google is your friend here. Sorry.