Electric baseboard heaters in Cincinnati instead of furnace?

[Brandon T.]

Recently bought a duplex in Cincinnati and the house has one furnace that covers both units. I want to separate the utilities so they're paid by the tenants each month, I've gotten quotes to separate the existing furnace from the ductwork and add in a second furnace (10K). I'm aware of people installing baseboard heaters because they're cheaper to install, but they can cause high electric bills. Does anyone have any experience using electric baseboard heaters on a 2nd an 3rd story unit in Cincinnati? My thinking is the heat from the first floor would rise and it'd be easier to heat the second and third floor. Maybe I should keep the furnace on the second and third floor and use baseboards on the first. First floor unit is 1000 sq/ft, second and third floor unit is 1500 sq/ft. I like the idea of baseboard heat but I have no clue what the electric bill would be. Any thoughts or input would be greatly appreciated! Property is in a  C+/B- area

[Marco Fiore]

Hi Brandon, I hope all is well! From my experience, rents tend to be higher with having a furnace instead of baseboard heating.  Also, baseboard heating is much more expensive which creates higher turnover. Overall, tenants aren't a fan.