Houston Chronicle Sunday

Get to know what to expect with luxury condo utility costs.

- By Valerie Sweeten FREELANCE WRITER

Moving into a luxury condominiu­m means knowing what to expect financiall­y beyond the basics, and that includes utilities, so there are some provider choices you’ll make as a resident.

What’s good to know is that your condo fees do cover some utilities in addition to numerous items, according to Mashvisor.com’s article, What Do Condo Fees Cover? These range from water to electricit­y, gas, shared utilities, pool cleaning, gardening, landscapin­g, repairs and more.

Also important to note is that though most developmen­t condo fees do cover a variety of items, the more utilities and such that are included, the more your fees will probably be, as reported in the story, What Do Condo Fees Cover? A Lot More Than You Think by Realtor.com.

For electricit­y, exploring your options is easy to do and compare with the website, https://comparepow­er.com/providers/ texas-electricit­y-energycomp­anies.

Knowing your facts to what is important to you can aid in making a good choice for your home.

Paul Paras, co-founder of Real Simple Energy, said their data-driven platform allows condo residents that have a choice of an energy provider to search all Texas electricit­y plans on a daily basis to make sure they aren’t overpaying.

“Our fixed-rate service is geared towards for larger condo residences,” said Paras. “Our fixed-bill service is perfect for smaller condos with lower energy users or those on a fixed income.

“We manage their account monthly to ensure accuracy, then find the cheapest publicly available rate plan upon renewal.”

SmartAsset.com stated that according to Numbeo.com (May 2019), a basic utilities package for a 915-square foot residence in Houston will cost around $133 a month including electricit­y, heating, water and garbage, at a price that’s about $19 below the national average ($152).

With the addition of the internet service to monthly expenses, expect to pay an extra $80 (varies).

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 ?? Courtesy of The Sophie at Bayou Bend ?? Important to note is that although most condo fees cover a variety of items, the more utilities that are included, the more your fees will probably be.
Courtesy of The Sophie at Bayou Bend Important to note is that although most condo fees cover a variety of items, the more utilities that are included, the more your fees will probably be.

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