Utility Questions No One Asks Before Buying a Home

Once they find a place they like, most homebuyers move on to looking at the hard numbers: the asking price or monthly rent, estimated taxes, square footage, mortgage rate, etc. Often lost in the shuffle are questions about utilities—gas, electricity, water, and internet services—that power the home and make it comfortable and livable.

Utilities exist in the background of our lives, and if you’ve rented before, some of them may have been included in your monthly payment, which is why many buyers don’t think about them before moving in. After all, it’s not like your new home just won’t have gas and water, right? But there’s a lot more to your utilities than just having them. Here are questions to ask yourself about utilities in any home you’re thinking about buying.

How much will my bills cost each month?

The most obvious question that many home buyers forget to consider is what the average bill for each utility will be. The cost of natural gas, electricity, water, and internet varies greatly from place to place — often within a few miles or depending on the time of use . If your utility costs were previously hidden in your rent, you may not even know how much you are paying for these services because the landlord is definitely passing the cost on to you. Even if you have a pretty good idea of ​​how much your utilities cost you in your old home, there is no guarantee that those bills will be the same in your new home.

The best way to find out what you’re getting into from a budget perspective is to ask the current owners what their average monthly bills are. Better yet, ask to see their annual utility bills for each service so you can get an idea of ​​what you’ll be paying. The average combined cost of electricity, water, gas, and internet in the U.S. is about $330 per month , so if the number you hear is significantly higher, you may need to dig deeper to find out why.

Does the house share resources with another house?

Few people think to ask if the house they are considering shares gas or electric service with the house next door (or any other utilities you may have to pay for, like sewer or water). When my neighbor began a major renovation on his house, he discovered (to his horror) that he shared a gas line with the neighbor on the other side, which the local utility company then insisted on separating. This delayed the project considerably, as he had difficulty coordinating with the city and the utility company to get the job done.

It’s not uncommon for attached row houses or homes originally built as duplexes (or twins) to have at least one shared electric meter, often in the garage. One homeowner on Reddit expressed concerns about charging an electric car in the future because his garage shared electricity with his neighbor, essentially a condo situation for two owners. By making sure your utilities are completely separate from your neighbors’, you can save yourself some trouble in the future — or at least prepare for future problems.

What types of meters does it have?

Smart meters now make up more than 70% of utility meters in the U.S., but that leaves many old-fashioned meters that need to be read manually. That means someone will have to come to your home once a month, physically enter it to read the meters if they’re inside, or you’ll have to read and report the meter data yourself. And if you forget or utility workers can’t get in for a while, the utility will assess your bills, which could lead to unexpected balloon payments later.

The type of smart meter also matters. Some smart meters must be read from outside your home via a wireless signal, meaning a utility worker may still need limited access to your property to get close enough, while others send information directly to the utility without the need for interaction. Knowing all of this will prepare you for a small but important aspect of living in this home.

Is the house eligible for any subsidies?

If you’re buying a home, your finances are probably in order — today. But none of us know what tomorrow will bring, and you won’t be the first person to go broke . Asking about utility subsidies or assistance programs in your area is a good check. You may never have to worry about paying your energy bill, but if you find yourself in a bind after a layoff, a medical procedure, or another financial emergency, having this information on hand can make things a lot less stressful.

Is the service reliable?

It’s almost a cliche for house hunters to run water in every bathroom and kitchen to assess the water pressure, but it’s not a very effective way to test this aspect of your new home. Bringing a water pressure gauge as part of your house hunting tool kit will give you a better idea, but you should also ask the current owners if the water pressure is consistent .

Getting a good reading during a site inspection is just one data point. Other things to ask about in terms of utility quality include:

• Does water pressure drop when more than one appliance is running?

• How fast is the internet? Are there slowdowns during periods of heavy use or dead spots in the home that might require purchasing a mesh router system ?

• Does your home experience frequent power outages or blackouts or power outages?

• Is your water hard? Do you need a softener?

• How often do water main breaks occur in this area?

• How quickly do local utility companies respond to problems (especially emergencies)?

Where are the mechanical parts located?

The placement of your appliances is important but often overlooked. Here are some questions to ask about the placement of your water heater, furnace, and other utility areas of your potential new home. Check the mechanical area if you can, and consider how easy it is to access — will workers (or you) be able to get in there to make repairs or perform maintenance? Will there be any difficulty installing replacement units and hauling away old units?

Another factor is the level at which your meter will be located. If it’s in a basement or crawlspace, is that area prone to flooding? Will their air filters have to work overtime because of dust and other environmental factors? And if utility workers need to read your meters, where will they be located? Will you have to give someone a tour of your dirty house every time they read your meters?

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