Thread: Turning on utilities for home inspection. Buyer or seller?

From the extract, I'd say it's the Seller's responsibility ...

SELLER agrees to provide the utilities for inspections and immediate access.

Since the utilities are not provided for an inspection then the contract can be terminated by you, the Buyer.

Edit: If you really want the house, you may be able to negotiate the electrician's fee by offering to pay for it (at closing) PROVIDED you close on the deal. However, I'd say you are being generous by doing so as it doesn't appear that you HAVE to. Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer and am not giving legal advice.

It's definitely the seller's responsibility.

It never occurred to me. I just contacted my inspector and my RE agent and inspector handled it. I may have to go over old contracts but I don't recall ever getting charged for the utilities as a buyer. Good question. ++++speed

Getting the utilities turned on so a proper inspection can be done is the sellers responsibility (unless the offer was written with a strict "as-is" contingency, I dont think youll ever have to deal with a utility company on a house you dont own (or arent "about" to own).

If the utilities arent on, it is up to them to get that electricians letter over to the company, so the utilities can be turned on and a proper inspection of what you are buying can be done.

Boy -- that sounds completely ridiculous. I have never bought a house that didn't have utilities on.

Some foreclosures may be "Winterized" out here in Colorado, which means all the water is turned off, so they can not turn on the furnace in the winter and the pipes won't freeze... but that is really simple to reverse during the inspection -- You just find the red handle, and pull it I've never had to fight with a seller to get utilities turned back on though....

- Hakrjak

In the past I have needed electricity for a brief amount of time. If the meter is there I just pull the meter out and pull the plastic tabs from the spade terminals and replace the meter. Instant electricity.
Not exactly on the up and up but solves the problem. Since you don't own the house yet electric company can't come after you. Could have been done by anyone. I am not saying break the law but there is always a creative solution to any problem.

Originally Posted by rcardin

In the past I have needed electricity for a brief amount of time. If the meter is there I just pull the meter out and pull the plastic tabs from the spade terminals and replace the meter. Instant electricity.
Not exactly on the up and up but solves the problem. Since you don't own the house yet electric company can't come after you. Could have been done by anyone. I am not saying break the law but there is always a creative solution to any problem.

..except the juice comes on and there's a short in the wall that creates a spark and burns the whole house down... and you and your inspector slowly walk down the sidewalk.

This is the seller's fault for leaving the house with no utilities for 6 months. The electric company won't turn on the power until someone inspects the house. In vacant houses people steal fixtures, rip appliances out of the walls and leave the wires hanging. Turning on the juice without an inspection can be bad.

Originally Posted by biophase

..except the juice comes on and there's a short in the wall that creates a spark and burns the whole house down... and you and your inspector slowly walk down the sidewalk.

This is the seller's fault for leaving the house with no utilities for 6 months. The electric company won't turn on the power until someone inspects the house. In vacant houses people steal fixtures, rip appliances out of the walls and leave the wires hanging. Turning on the juice without an inspection can be bad.

Hehehe... This must be owned by a bank, right? It's amazing to me how cheap banks can be. They'll save pennies on utilities, but they'll walk right past saving thousands when people offer to do short sale deals with them, and lots of creative strategies that could save them money in the end.

There is 1 of these down the road that is all winterized now, and I've been arguing with the bank on for 6 months now. It isn't going to auction until September, and they have already lost $3500 in mortgage payments by my calculations.

- Hakrjak

The house isn't owned by the bank. The owners have relocated to New York. The house has been on the market since last Feb. I spoke with the Realtor today and she said that she hasn't heard back from the seller. Where we screwed up at is using this Realtor who is working for the both of us (seller & buyer). She doesn't seem to care or want to make any money. I am getting this home $70k off of the value. I want this place, but I'm trying not to get attached to it in case I have to walk away. I have 3 weeks until closing and I need this process to be sped up. *Instant Up Date* I just happened to click on my inbox while typing this and I see that my Realtor hasn't even gotten my purchase agreement signed by the Seller!!!!!!!!!!!! She says, "I have been unsuccessful in trying to reach the seller about the matter of the utilities. The purchase agreement has not yet been signed by the sellers. I will let you know when I hear from them. It's up to you if you want to wait for a response. "I am fed up with this woman! I am going to call her manager on Monday. What would you all do?