Whether you are buying or renting a place, when it comes to moving, there is usually a lot to do to prepare for the transition.
An important consideration is to make sure that the home’s utilities are set up and that you are informed of the types of utility services, as well as the utility companies that serve the home. Common utility services include water sewer, electricity, gas, cable and internet. It is also good to know if there are other competing utility options for your home that may be better suited for you. If you have a realtor or property manager, confirm if he/ she is doing this due diligence or if you should. The utility information is usually gathered by the realtor or property manager, so it is helpful when the real estate representatives point out where this information is to the buyer/tenant, particularly if there is an on-site system that many people aren’t familiar with.
Did you know? Often utilities are managed by governments or utility companies, but there could be on-site systems at the home including septic systems, well water and propane gas.
This is especially true here in Baldwin County, which is the largest county in Alabama. Given the county’s size and additional factors, the existing utilities-from water and sewer to natural gas- cannot provide service to all areas. Therefore, there are large portions of Baldwin County that do not have water, sewer, or other public utilities available. It can be costly for utilities to extend main utility lines along roads, and many of them need grants to cover the cost.
Sometimes different utility companies can provide the same services to an immediate area or subdivision. For instance, there is a local Baldwin County subdivision in which BCSS provides sewer service to half of the residents and another provider attends to the other half.
Here are some tips on setting up utility services for your new home:
- Confirm everything before you close on the property or sign a lease
- Be aware that the property could use multiple utility companies instead of having one utility provide all services with one bill
- There could be on-site utility systems, as described above
- Get any outside systems and appliances checked out to confirm their condition- for example, septic systems, septic or sewer service grinder pumps, well pumps and propane tanks
- Confirm that all public utility services are active. If they are inactive or disconnected, find out from the utility if there is an unpaid balance or reconnection fee. This is key with foreclosures or unoccupied properties.
“There’s probably a long list of utilities you use each month, but not every one of them is essential. As far as what you need to live comfortably, you’re basically looking at power (electricity/gas), trash pick-up, and water and sewer.
Water and sewer can run the gamut from $10 a month for a small apartment to, say, $200 a month or more for a large home with lots of grass to water in the summertime. Trash pick-up fees will usually stay constant regardless of season and start at around $10 a month for an apartment (possibly with additional fees for recycling).
For trash pickup, you’ll have an exact number: Either your landlord is paying it; you’re paying it and the amount is stated in your lease (for renters); or you’re paying it and you know the price because you set up the service yourself. The same goes for phone, cable and Internet.”
-from Howstuffworks.com – view full article here.
Since BCSS works with sewer service and septic tanks, we will share our experience specifically related to moving in relation to wastewater (sewer) systems.
- People moving into homes where BCSS provides sewer service can always contact us to confirm if the service is active, the reconnection fee for inactive service, if the home has a grinder pump or not, etc. If you have a different sewer service provider, that utility should be able to easily provide the same information.
- With BCSS, it is also simple to transfer service into your name by contacting us with your name and closing date or add your name to the account if you’re a renter. We offer online forms through docusign on our website. Unlike many utilities, BCSS does not set up a renter as a primary account holder- instead, the property owner is ultimately responsible for the bill. We can add a renter to the account to receive a bill, and the owner will always receive a copy of the bill and any notifications on the account.
- As the article above suggests, if the property has a septic system, we also recommend that you request a septic tank pumping and official inspection on the septic system before purchasing the property. If you are renting with a septic system, we suggest that you ask the owner where the septic tank and field lines are, when the last time the tank was pumped, and if there have been any issues with the system, such as overflows or backups. Great septic system inspection instructions can be found here, including a user friendly checklist.
We hope this advice provides you with helpful guidance during your move. Even though it may add to your to-do list, knowing what you will have on the utility side can save you money and hassle long-term.
