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Power? Water? Garbage? Boring, boring boring. No internet? No TV? Eeeek!<\/p>\n\n
When you’re buying or selling a house, all the normal utilities remain in service but the billing has to change to the new owner. Within 1-2 days before or after closing (utility companies aren’t fussy about the exact date,) contact the companies providing utilities to your house and let them know whether you’re the buyer or the seller with your correct new billing address. Power, water and gas companies will ask you for meter readings or will charge you if they have to read the meters. Reading the meters is easy and here's how:<\/p>\n\n
Oil is a special deal, for those homes with oil furnaces/boilers and an oil tank. Sellers - two weeks before closing, have your oil servicing company come out, read the oil level in the tank and provide that info to escrow. The value of that oil will be credited to you at closing. Buyers - as part of your purchase and sale agreement, you will be purchasing the remaining oil in the tank as part of the transaction. Escrow will let you know that amount as part of your final down payment and closing costs/prepaids amount due at closing. Buyers - after closing, contact the oil company that's been serving the property and set up for continued service, or shop the 2-3 competing companies for the best deal and get set up with oil servicing (typically quarterly tank fill-ups) and oil tank insurance (free or a few bucks a year.)<\/p>\n\n
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