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The Benefits And Disadvantages Of Apartments With Utilities Included In Carmel

February 22, 2023
A woman adjusting a thermostat

Getting utilities included may seem like a good deal when you’re looking for an apartment in Carmel. You won’t have to set aside funds for gas and electricity or remind yourself to pay those monthly bills. On the other hand, you might be faced with a more expensive rent to cover the cost of those utilities, and you won’t know if you’re dishing out more money than you would if utilities were separate. So in advance of you signing that lease, let’s explore the advantages and drawbacks of apartments with utilities included in Carmel.

The Benefits Of Apartments With Utilities Included In Carmel

The fireplace and bar counter in the common room at Ivy Flats Apartments.

As well as their amenities, lots of Carmel apartments advertise that rent comes with utilities such as water, gas, and electricity. This is a convenient perk. With those fees rolled into a single payment, you don’t need to set aside money for utilities or remind yourself to submit those monthly bills. All you need to do is cover your rent, and everything else is taken care of! You also will avoid the inconvenience of starting accounts with the separate utility providers after you sign the lease.

Choosing a utilities-included apartment in Carmel might be the smart move financially too. If you operate the heater or A/C at full blast for several months of the year, you won’t see costlier energy costs each winter or summer. You’ll get to pay the agreed-upon rental amount no matter your HVAC usage, with no surprises. Having the utilities included might work out well for people who work from home or when you reside in a sizeable apartment. If you are inside with lights and the heater or A/C on throughout the day or need to warm up a big area, covering utilities with your monthly rent might cost you less in the long run.

The Cons Of Utilities Included Apartments In Carmel

Staying in an apartment with utilities included doesn’t work for everyone. To offset the expense of those utilities, your apartment management could charge a steeper rent. For people who burn a fair amount of electricity or gas throughout the year, that cost might be close to or even less than covering the utilities independently. But if you don’t run your AC or furnace very much, you might burn a lesser amount of energy than what you’re paying in rent. You could even spend more than what you should on combined rent and utilities each month to offset other tenants’ more excessive utility usage, and you wouldn’t realize it.

With utilities included in your rent, you also won’t have the ability to reduce your energy usage to cut costs. You might power down your apartment HVAC system and use a minimal amount of electricity, but your rent won’t be adjusted. While some tenants look forward to lower utility costs during mild weather, you’ll pay the same amount of rent, without exception.

Discover Your Future Home At Lakeside Apartments

At Lakeside, you’ll find sizeable apartments and luxury amenities that make you feel right at home. Our leasing specialists will team up with you to locate the right apartment for your specific situation. Call 317-344-8491 or arrange a tour to find out why we’ve become the best apartment community in Carmel!