Pay Attention to the Little Things
When you’re searching for housing, location, price, and whether or not you can bring your cat are often high up on the priority list. One of the things that many people overlook is the condition of the apartment or house. Since utility bills are quickly reaching unheard of highs, below are some questions you can ask the landlord before you move in that can save you hundreds of dollars in heating, cooling, and water bills later on:
(1) Is the house all gas, gas and electric, or all electric?
(2) Ask the landlord if they can tell you what the previous renters paid for utilities in January and August, two of the coldest and hottest months of the year.
(3) Are the windows new? Do they have screens? Do they latch properly? (Drafty windows really rack up the heating bills in the winter)
(4) Is the attic (if there is an attic) insulated? An uninsulated attic is a heat (and therefore money) sucker.
(5) How old are the heating and cooling units? Older appliances aren’t as efficient and will cost you more money to use than newer units.
(6) What type of thermostat is installed in the house? A new digital thermostat is relatively inexpensive but can save a lot of money simply because you’re able to be more specific with the temperature.
(7) Does the utility company that provides service to the apartment or house offer payment plans? These plans allow you to pay the same amount every month. This can help prevent those surprise bills at unexpected or inconvenient times.
(8) Does the house or apartment come with a washer and dryer? Paying to do laundry at a laundromat can cost you $10 or more a week while doing a load of laundry in your house will only add up to about $40 for the year.
(9) How old is the house or apartment? It’s a simple, known fact that older constructions are more drafty. The newer the place, the tighter everything should be.
Hope these tips will help you prepare when you’re searching for a new place to live!
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