[maharlika]

Hi Las Vegans, great day today, huh? Hope you all enjoyed it. Just have a question:

So hopefully we'll be closing on a home soon and we were told by our realtor that we would probably have to pay for the utility bills since the day we went under contract - almost 2 months now. Thereafter we will be credited by the seller.

... Is that true?

Thing is the 2 AC units are always set on 72. It's a 2500sqft home with the pool pumps running so we're dreading the AC bill.

Shouldn't the seller just pay for it up front? Why all the "you pay for it first then we'll pay you back" hoopla? Just creates complications.

[jjameson922]

How can you pay the utilities when they have not been transferred into your name? Or have they?

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by maharlika

Hi Las Vegans, great day today, huh? Hope you all enjoyed it. Just have a question:

So hopefully we'll be closing on a home soon and we were told by our realtor that we would probably have to pay for the utility bills since the day we went under contract - almost 2 months now. Thereafter we will be credited by the seller.

... Is that true?

Thing is the 2 AC units are always set on 72. It's a 2500sqft home with the pool pumps running so we're dreading the AC bill.

Shouldn't the seller just pay for it up front? Why all the "you pay for it first then we'll pay you back" hoopla? Just creates complications.

NO. Seller pays unless a different and unusual arrangement is made.

There are circumstances where I might recommend that a buyer pick up the utilities early...particularly to protect nice landscaping and swimming pools. But that is a very unusual situation.

Your agent is not representing the seller as well is he? The normal on REOs is for the sellers agent to pick up the cost which is reimbursed by the seller at the close of escrow.

There is really no circumstance where an unoccupied house should be set at 72...dumb whoever is paying. 85 maybe...

[sheriwx]

Originally Posted by maharlika

Hi Las Vegans, great day today, huh? Hope you all enjoyed it. Just have a question:

So hopefully we'll be closing on a home soon and we were told by our realtor that we would probably have to pay for the utility bills since the day we went under contract - almost 2 months now. Thereafter we will be credited by the seller.

... Is that true?

Thing is the 2 AC units are always set on 72. It's a 2500sqft home with the pool pumps running so we're dreading the AC bill.

Shouldn't the seller just pay for it up front? Why all the "you pay for it first then we'll pay you back" hoopla? Just creates complications.

That's the weirdest thing I've ever heard. No way would I pay utilities on a house I didn't own. That's crazy!

[maharlika]

Originally Posted by olecapt

There is really no circumstance where an unoccupied house should be set at 72...dumb whoever is paying. 85 maybe...

I know, right?! I was tempted to change it to at least 80 after the home inspection but our realtor told us we're not allowed to do that.

Thanks for the responses, everyone. Spoke to our realtor again today and I guess I misunderstood because she said we won't have to pay utilities until we own the house. I distinctly remember her saying that, though. Maybe she meant that once the current month's bill comes after closing we'll have to pay for it first then be reimbursed thereafter?