Current Ballpark Monthly Housing Utility Costs (Denton, Parker: apartment, how much, house)

[Dashakhs]

Hi guys,

Trying to see how much to budget/expect for our eventual house in hopefully one of the Northern Tarrant/Southern Denton County towns we're liking.

What could we expect our utilities costs to look like on a house that is about 3/4 BR, 2000ish sqft, two people for now, gardeners for a somewhat decent sized front/backyard say about 8000 sqft lot, (and how much would a pool add to this if we had one?). We would like to have the house your standard 72ish (cooler if I could convince her!) during summer and run heater in winters as needed.

So it'd be water, electricity, (gas too if hopefully there's a gas stove), trash, and TV/internet I suppose on top of the house expenses themselves. Anything we're not thinking about? It's our first time so we want to make sure we're painting ourselves a proper picture.

Thanks!

[Threestep2]

This is a crystal ball question - too many variable to even guess. Your realtor should be able to get historic utility costs for specific homes unless owners requested their records to be private with the providers.

[ChristieP]

There are too many variables. How many people live in the house? How old is it? Have the windows been replaced? What direction does it face?

Water totally depends on the city. Almost all include sewage and trash pickup in the water bill.

Internet depends on your ISP, and so does tv.

[tcualum]

If you're concerned about cost, then pay the money and sign up for Energy Ogre. I use it for our house and my mom's apartment. Everyone I've recommended it to has saved money, even when you account for the yearly cost of the service.

[Dashakhs]

Thanks ror the suggestions guys. I figured it's a bit of an odd/unknown thing to ask because of the variables but figured it's worth a shot.

Good to know about realtor potentially being able to get that info.

[retiredintx]

Agree there are too many variables, but think you want a ballpark and not a crystal ball number. Water/trash/sewer is probably around $100/month. Electric with A/C, likely $130/month with lows and highs figured in. Cable/internet would probably be $172/month going with the standard local provider. Gas would be around $60/month, again with lows ($24) and highs. Hope that helps - that's 10 years of North TX experience...

[Dashakhs]

Originally Posted by retiredintx

Agree there are too many variables, but think you want a ballpark and not a crystal ball number. Water/trash/sewer is probably around $100/month. Electric with A/C, likely $130/month with lows and highs figured in. Cable/internet would probably be $172/month going with the standard local provider. Gas would be around $60/month, again with lows ($24) and highs. Hope that helps - that's 10 years of North TX experience...

That helps! Figure around 500 a month average. Absolutely appreciate it.

[Threestep2]

Originally Posted by retiredintx

Agree there are too many variables, but think you want a ballpark and not a crystal ball number. Water/trash/sewer is probably around $100/month. Electric with A/C, likely $130/month with lows and highs figured in. Cable/internet would probably be $172/month going with the standard local provider. Gas would be around $60/month, again with lows ($24) and highs. Hope that helps - that's 10 years of North TX experience...

Water/trash/sewer for $100/month sounds like a small apartment not a house with yard.

[retiredintx]

Okay, assume it depends upon the jurisdiction. No, not an apartment but a 3 BR house with 7500 sq ft lot and gardens in FTW limits. But we don't have grass to try to water like most do - got rid of grass and went to pocket gardens and native plants that thrive in this environment. Grass doesn't. Actual monthly range for last year was $64 to $99 (3 summer months). Includes laundry at least 5x per week.

[mschrief]

Not in Fort worth, but Parker county.

Water is what is expensive here. Electric is typically 200 in summer, water will be 200 as well, garbage 60. We have a combined utility bill, no ability to choose providers.