Many states exempt sales tax on utilities for multifamily properties. Check with your Department of Revenue to confirm the exemption. If your property is exempt and your property is currently paying sales tax you may file for the exemption to be effective at the next billing cycle. This could save 5% of your water/sewer expense. …
Author: Rae Schnabel
How do I work through my utility company to determine programs that are available for my company?
How do I work through my utility company to determine programs that are available for my company? Check desireusa.org: provides listing of programs for each state and each utility company (these may be dated, but provide good guide) Check utility website: there are typically resident programs and business programs. Some utilities classify multifamily as resident…
How do I play this Sustainability game for my company?
ROI, NOI, increased property valuation, Leed Certification, Green Loans…..how do I find my way through this for the greatest impact for my company? Evaluate what type of company you are? Build and hold, entrepreneurial, flip? How long does your company plan to hold this property? Which properties pay the highest utility bills? Who pays the…
Maintenance is the properties lead sustainability secret
Who is included in the majority of property reviews – good or bad? Properties maintenance personnel! Who at the property has more one -to-one interfaces with a resident than other property personnel? Maintenance personnel! Who does the property depend on to install low-flow aerators, check units for leaks – toilets, faucets, water heaters? Maintenance personnel!…
Marketing your “Green” Efforts
We began to market our “green” efforts as we implemented them at our properties. Not because potential residents were requesting the information, but because we wanted to stand out from our competition We wanted the current and potential residents to know that we had taken steps to save them money. So, we started educating the…
Beyond Low Flow
Reducing water consumption is double barreled since it is the basis for sewer cost as well. The cheapest and easiest reduction measure is low flow aerators in bath and kitchen faucets and low flow showerheads. Checking toilets for leaks with a dye test every 6 months or when you change air filters or complete a…
Getting Started
Perhaps a tired issue, but still is a tough one: “How to begin” the conservation efforts. The task of harnessing all of our properties utilities – measuring, reducing, continuing the process, is daunting. What are my criteria? Well, I want anything that will make an impact immediately and over the long haul, save money, have…