Utilities while renovating an apartment building for a long time

[Roan LaPlante]

Hi,

I purchased an old 6 unit apartment building in very poor condition which will require extensive renovations that probably will require some months to complete. I will need to completely redo the electrical wiring (and the plumbing, and install new furnaces and water heaters, and so on).

My question is this, is there any good reason to get the utilities for each apartment in my name and pay it until the building is rented out, or just get them turned on shortly before tenants get there? The total cost, for example, of just paying the electricity company's service fees of $15 for 6 accounts for 6 months, is around $500. That's not a ton of money, but is it necessary since the period of renovation is likely to be rather long?

[Matt Clark]

Roan LaPlante in most cases the renovation crews will need the utilities on while they do the work. At least the electricity and one functioning bathroom...