Selling Your Vacant San Antonio TX Home for Sale-Leave the Utilities On
A comment from a recent seller of mine left me a bit floored and reminded me that sellers don't deal with selling San Antonio TX homes for sale every day like I do. The comment went something like this...
"Well, we leave tomorrow and I called the utility company and told them to
take the utilities out of my name"....To which I replied this is not a good idea. The comment continued.."Oh I didn't tell them to turn them off, I just don't know whose name the utilities will be in, it just won't be mine".
take the utilities out of my name"....To which I replied this is not a good idea. The comment continued.."Oh I didn't tell them to turn them off, I just don't know whose name the utilities will be in, it just won't be mine". First, whenever you take utilities out of your name, if they don't go in someone else's name, they will be turned off. Someone must pay for the utilities and that person is going to be the seller until such time that the home sells. In fact, the day after closing and funding is when the seller can effectively take their name as the owner off of the utilities.
Now, I do completely understand you wanting to turn off the utilities because you are not living there and why pay for something you are not using. However, once you get a contract in Texas, you as the seller are required to turn on the utilities to allow for inspections and leave them on during the entire contract. If you turn them off while your home is on the market and then turn them back on, you will pay a reconnect fee. That is just one disadvantage of turning off the utilities while selling your San Antonio TX home for sale.
There are a few other disadvantages by turning off the utilities when trying to sell your home. For example, while trying to sell your San Antonio TX home in the summer time, it can get...well you know...HOT. When buyers are coming to look at your home because of the marketing I have done to draw them there, they are 
going to want a nice experience. Entering into a sweltering home is going to be unpleasant for them and they won't want to spend much time in the home envisioning themselves living there. They may even rush to get to the airconditioned car...that's not what you want.
going to want a nice experience. Entering into a sweltering home is going to be unpleasant for them and they won't want to spend much time in the home envisioning themselves living there. They may even rush to get to the airconditioned car...that's not what you want. During showings, folks like to light up a room. As soon as they enter your home for sale, they will switch on lights...if they don't come on, it can be a bit disconcerting. Now, lucky for us here in the Greater San Antonio TX area, during the summertime it stays relatively light until late. However, no one really wants to look at a home that they can't truly see if you get my meaning.
Additionally, (and this is especially during the spring and summer months), your lawn will need to remain being watered and taken care of. The lawn person you hire will need access to some water or, if you have a sprinkler system, you will want to set the timer to water at least once a week. You don't want your lawn looking like the Sahara Desert while your neighbor's yards look lush and beautiful, (do remember to set it for whatever Stage water restriction we are in...and you know we are always in one of em).
Basically, when trying to sell your San Antonio TX home, you need to create a great atmosphere for the buyer to WANT to buy your home as they get out of your car and walk into your home. This includes curb appeal and walking into a home that has a reasonable temperature and we can turn on a light or two.
Now, I promise as your San Antonio TX Realtor® that I will check up on the home and ensure that eager buyers who like it frosty didn't turn down your thermometer to 60 degrees and leave all the windows open after leaving. I will also ensure that your sprinkler settings are where they are supposed to be so some relentless neighbor doesn't turn you into the water police and hem you up :).
So, please, while you are trying to sell your Vacant San Antonio TX home for sale, just leave the utilities on. No worries...we will sell your house soon!
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