Yes, I always provide the previous 12 months of total energy costs but I also advise the Buyer that everyone lives differently and at different temps too!

When 2 homes are priced the same, the energy efficient should win.

I don't see why a buyer shouldn't ask what the energy bills are running, but I always remind my buyers that they need to keep in mind that different households consume energy at different rates. Duke Power here will do an audit for free and provide a document showing how energy efficient your home is versus the "average" home. It's a powerful selling tool.

Hi Mike --- I think when a seller provides expenses(electric, gas, water) it can be helpful but the composition of the household makes a difference.  It's not just size, ages(teenagers with long showers, diapers) or any number of other factors that can render the number invalid.

I have had clients do it occasionally but I don't make a rule of it(hmm -- maybe I should).   

As to your question --- do I like it...?   I say  -- bring on the information especially when it's in advance of a buyer writing an offer and not after the fact.  

My response is directly related to their answer, "What number would enable you to put an offer on this house?" 

Of course I  already of that information. It is important to communicate you are not a puppet on a string.

Before if the number reflect an incredible benefit.

After is they respond to my question.

Just like the 'Does that fireplace work?" the answer is always, "If you need it to work for you to buy, it will work!"

MIKE ROCK I think some buyers would like to know the energy consumption.

Nothing wrong in asking for it, however, all of us use utilities differently.

As a listing agent, I ask sellers to provide this information and leave it in the package. Helps some buyers.

In our area, utilitiy costs matter.

5000 sf home, 1 ac green plush lawn, large pool.  What does it take to run the place? I have seen owners try to hide their $2K water(drought 4th year in a row) home w/o a private well and has no solar.  It does not sell!

MIKE ROCK Providing the last 12 months of utility bills used to be SOP. It's fair.

My most organized sellers willign have this data available for viewing. Serious buyers ask this question and I try to provide it. Also our utility companies wil give it to anyone that calls.

I think it's fair, and I like the idea. Smart buyers will ask for them if they are not provided, and even smarter buyers will realize that different users will have different energy costs for many reasons, not only because of efficiency.

I've definitely had buyers who asked for copies of electric bills. If both parties agree to provide this information, I have no feelings about this. For buyers, it's pat of due diligence.

Yes. Buyers shouldn't even have to ask for those. Sellers should jsut provide that information. But, amount of people living in house and lifestyle can affect the monthly utility costs, so that has to be considered.

It's fair for better or .for worse but you must take it with a grain of salt because energy consciousness .is an individual awareness.

We suggest they call the utility company for this.

I send them to the power company, they are willing to share the history on any home in town.

Is it fair? Absolutely! It's part of a buyer's due diligence.

In some cases, we'll have the energy and maintenance costs available as part of the listing materials, especially if there's been a significant investment into energy efficients appliances and systems. It can be a great selling point.

I had one potential buyer ask this.  The seller (rightfully in my view) refused. The seller had much the same comments as the disclaimer in the OP's questions.

If I was selling my house and a buyer asked for my bills, the phrase "you can pry it from my cold dead hands" comes to mind.

Absolutely, the buyer needs to know what to expect as far as utility costs.

I think it is fair for the buyer to ask.  And I would recommend to the seller that they provide them.

When I represent a seller, we always ask for utilities and provide the information online for any buyers out there.  When I represent a buyer, I ask for that information.  

If the buyer wants that information, I have them contact the electric themselves. 

Wise Idea if you ask me.

No paper bills.  A verbal should do it.  It's in the 90's here 90% of the time and I have my bedroom/patio door open 1' all day long so the dogs can come and go.  Obviously I'm paying more than my neighbor.  We also keep our pool at 88 all year round.  Our neighbors don't.

Some areas in Md require the Seller to provide the utility  costs as part of the disclosure.

It's frequently requested and provided, but it's really apples to oranges as the usage may be very different by the new owners, depnding on the number of people in their househould and their habits.

When the buyer asks for that kind of information, it i up to the seller to provide it.  They don't have to if they don't want to.

Yes. Hawaii requires at least one month's billing to be documented to the buyer. If requested I encourage my sellers to provide 12 months.

In Wisconsin....anyone can find out any person's monthly or average gas/electric bill just be giving the address of the house...toll free 7 days a week...not protected information.

Our local electric company stopped giving out the average utility bills, so many buyers do ask for 12 months at inspection. 

Yes, it's a good idea.  Though I would caution buyers that their results may vary based on their personal lifestyle.

This is fairly common in our area. Most sellers have not problem with it, some do. 

This may be a fair request. However, in a fast moving market, the home may be under contract before a response is received.

As most are on budgets here that becomes difficult but the utility company will give the numbers with a phone call.

It is part of our MLS to see the average utilities per month.

I think it's reasonable for the buyer to ask and for the seller to provide copies of the electric bill, so they can obtain historical data.

While the numbers will be different for different occupants, the trends may be useful for a buyer to know.

Mike- as a seller, I always kept my utility bills for the past year should the buyer want to see them.  This is especially true for our homes in South Florida where you run your A/C almost 12 months out of the year.