utility management - Utility Junction

What to Expect When You’re Renovating

February 17, 2023 by Carolina Narvaez

Construction and utilities. Utility Junction

Many property investors are looking to make improvements to their properties. Whether it’s making repairs, increasing the value of the home, or just improving its look and feel, home renovations can be a great way to add some much-needed life into your home. Utility Junction takes a look at the basics of home renovations.

Pros and Cons of Home Renovations

The main benefit of home renovations is that they allow you to customize your space and make it appealing to buyers or renters. This can involve making repairs as needed, adding new rooms, or even reconfiguring existing spaces for better functionality. However, such projects can also be expensive and time-consuming. It’s important to weigh the pros and cons before starting any renovation project.

Common Types of Home Remodels

This Old House notes that one popular type of renovation is a kitchen remodel. This involves updating cabinets, countertops, appliances, and fixtures to create a modernized look with improved functionality. Bathroom remodels are also very common—updating sinks and toilets as well as changing out tile work, tubs, and showers—and can help make your bathroom more inviting while adding value to your home overall.

When Adding On for a Home Office or Multipurpose Room

If you’re looking for more square footage in your home or want to add on a room such as an office or multipurpose room, several considerations need to be taken into account first. First and foremost is clearly defining what outcome you’re hoping for from the remodel; this will help you better plan out the project timeline and budget appropriately. You may also need to apply for home improvement loans if the project costs exceed what you have saved up or set aside for renovations.

Connect With Reputable Contractors

Once you’ve established your desired outcome, it’s time to connect with reputable contractors who can help bring your vision to life—while staying within budget! Make sure that any contractors you hire have valid licenses and insurance to protect themselves legally should something go wrong during the renovation process. Additionally, budgeting carefully before beginning any project will ensure that there aren’t any surprises along the way (especially when it comes time for payment). Finally, setting clear expectations with a timeline and schedule will ensure that everyone involved knows what is expected from them throughout each stage of the project.

Apply for a Home Loan

Home renovations often require significant resources, and home improvement loans can help you finance these important investments. Application for home improvement loans can provide you with access to funds that can be used to finance home repairs, alterations, or additions like a new roof, fresh paint job, or landscaping. Whether you’re a property investor or manager looking to make repairs or sell property, home improvement loans can help cover the costs of home renovation projects and make them much more manageable.

Understand Estimating Apps/Software Contractors Use

For larger projects such as kitchen remodels or room additions, contractors use construction takeoff software and estimating software, which helps track costs associated with materials used in addition labor costs associated with each job task being performed by subcontractors hired by general contractors working on large-scale projects. Knowing what kind of apps/software contractors use will help homeowners determine exactly how much their project will cost before having any work done so they can plan accordingly. As an investor or property manager, you may consider this range of software and apps to gauge the costs and timelines of projects.

Invest in a Home Warranty for the Finished Product

Once all of your hard work has been completed, US News & World Report points out that you should advise new homeowners to invest in some sort of warranty that covers both labor costs as well as materials used in case anything goes wrong after all construction tasks have been completed. Having this extra protection provides peace of mind knowing everything was done correctly with quality products installed throughout each part of the renovation process.

In conclusion, this renovation project was a success due to careful planning and execution. By understanding the basics of home renovations – such as costs and budgeting, as well as which apps contractors use for estimates and material sourcing – anyone can successfully renovate their home on their terms.

Utility Junction offers the most user-friendly platform for utility bill management, expense tracking and hassle-free utility service transfer. Contact us today to learn more! 844-281-1312 or 1-800-961-0424

What is a utility concierge and what it’s not

October 25, 2022 by Carolina Narvaez

Who uses a utility concierge and for what purpose? A homeowner, common businesses and real estate companies that manage multiple homes, basically everybody at some point.

Why? Because it’s easier, safer, and it’s cost effective mainly for real estate investors, and property managers.

A utility concierge will meet with you to discuss the services you need, and help you find the best provider for you. A utility concierge can help you connect water, electricity, cable, or any other utility. However, most of them only provide water and electricity options.

Connecting utilities through a third party avoids the company spending time and money in the shape of manpower hours, delays and overpayment because of a bad rate. Those numbers become even more important when we’re talking about a property portfolio of more than 100 properties.

utility management for real estate companies

Then, what is it not a utility concierge?

It’s not a company that focuses on bringing the client savings in time and money to help them reduce costs in the ROI.

It’s not a company that streamlines a part of operations for real estate investors and property management companies.

It’s not a company that goes beyond connecting utilities, to also provide the option to track and analyze utility expenses and make utility bill payments for the recently connected utilities.

So is Utility Junction a utility concierge company? We go far and beyond that for our clients. Your company can rely on us for all utility management services.

Did you know that real estate investors and property managers can save thousands of dollars in time and money by outsourcing their utility management to a third party?

If not, we’re here to tell you: It’s true!

When the company starts to scale is when issues start to arise, because as the property volume increases, you need to track more details about the bills and properties, more spreadsheets are created and more connections and disconnections are requested in a not so friendly and tedious process that involves dealing for long hours with utility providers. Furthermore, some billing is received via paper bills and others via e-bills or paperless bills, which makes it harder to have full control of the due dates, amounts to pay, and bills to pay.

We bring Real estate investors and property management companies savings in time and money like no other company can do.

If you are interested in learning more about our services, visit our website or get in touch with us. We can help you save time and money with our utility consultancy services.

Need utility management services for multiple properties? Schedule a demo with us to receive a custom quote that fits your service requirements.

How To Enroll In Utilities Software Consultancy Services

July 7, 2022 by Carolina Narvaez

Are you always behind your utility dues because of your busy schedule? Worry no more for Utility Junction is here to save the day! Utility Junction provides service not only to Homeowners, but also to Property Managers & Landlords, Wholesalers, Investors, Enterprises, and iBuyers. UJ can help you manage home utilities, avoid overpayment, and help you save money! If you’re wondering what Utility Management is, let us give you a little background. The goal of utility management is to determine how various energy, waste, and water metrics affect your organization’s performance. You may be able to reduce costs by monitoring your residents’; and your property’s energy use and identifying waste or problems quickly.

Here is how you can get a glimpse of what Utility Junction has to offer. You can request for a demo and see what fits your needs.

1. Go to their website: https://utilityjunction.com/

Graphical user interface, application

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Just click the link and it will redirect you to UJ’s page. Once you are there, you will be able to see the Features, Pricing, and details about the software. You can also sign up for a free demo to get a deeper understanding of how it works.

2. Request for a Demo

On the home page, you will see a “Request Demo” button. Just click that button and it will redirect you to a page where you can put your details and arrange an appointment with the Utility Junction team at your earliest convenience. They will give you a tour on the software and how to navigate it.

3. What you can see on the Dashboard:

Now, we are at the most exciting part. Here is a glimpse of the interface of Utility Junction:

Summary Page:

On the summary page you will be able to see the Property Details such as Address and Property Information. You can upload files which contain the data of your bills. If you are more of a visual person, there are charts wherein you can see the changes of your bills by month and track your spending trend. You can also list several properties especially if you are a property manager.
Want to know more? REQUEST A DEMO now and you never have to encounter problems in paying your utility bills!

An Example of How Spreadsheets Hurt Productivity in Business

April 25, 2022 by Carolina Narvaez

Utility Management has long been a necessity for businesses and even households. Today, the digitalization of Utility Management has taken the world by storm. Not only businesses and households are relying on it – but individuals are too.

Are you tracking your utility bills with spreadsheets? It’s an easy solution that works fine for a small number of items, but practicality and efficiency start to fall apart as the number of utilities you have grows.

The use of spreadsheets to track utility and other utility bills can become a real nightmare. Oftentimes, data gets lost or misplaced between numerous tabs, and there’s no easy way to export the data into useful formats. With online platforms available to help you do just that.

We have been able to recollect some examples of situations that real estate companies face based on interactions we’ve had with our clients & working with them closely.

Cases in which spreadsheets were ineffective:

Have you ever experienced a situation whereby a member of your operations team was trying to figure out why a utility at home was disconnected? As it turns out, the payment slipped through the cracks and was missed. A past due balance led to service being disconnected.

Imagine another scenario, where you need to set up services for a property with the service provider. Almost 45 minutes later, you are told the service set-up cannot be completed as there are past due balances that need to be paid. Spreadsheets as a means of tracking your utility and other costs is not the right approach.

Some disadvantages spreadsheets may have for a growing real estate business:

A decentralized utility bill pay process causes confusion in managing hundreds of utility accounts. Leaving you with questions like: Were the bills paid?
The billing data is entered into the spreadsheet and then re-entered into the company’s A/P system so that payment can be made. Consequently, each utility bill is handled twice (sometimes even three times). It is a time-consuming and error-prone process.
The spreadsheet-based method does not allow easy comparisons between bills to determine if the company has been overcharged or to identify meter or billing issues.

The solution that has been proven to help real estate company streamline their process is centralized utility bill data.

Utility Junction is a solution that can help any business in the field of real estate to simplify utility & bill management processes. This platform can reduce the amount of time & money spent on administrative tasks and provide an infrastructure for analyzing financial data for both individual property and multi-property organizations.

Get a quick overview of all your portfolio’s utility accounts, keep track of payments and expenses, transfer services painlessly and remotely, get bill due date reminders, and more.

Utility Junction’s platform is the only solution you’ll ever need to manage your utility needs end to end. So, let’s connect for a discovery call & we can discuss the challenges you are facing in your operations. Know exactly what you need, contact us here or send us an email at support@utilityjunction.com

Gas, Electricity & Water Bill Tracking & Management Without Using A Spreadsheet

April 11, 2022 by Carolina Narvaez

Ever wonder if there’s a better way to keep track of your utility bills?

Spreadsheets aren’t the most efficient method for managing multiple bill due dates and amounts, and it can be hard to pay bills on time with so many other things going on. That’s where Utility Junction comes in. Our complete Utility Bill Management solution allows you to track all your basic utilities in one place – electricity, water, gas, sewage, and trash, etc – so you can stay organized. And with our Analytics Dashboard, you get access to all the features you need to:

Track bills and make sure they’re paid on time.

utility bill management, bills, electricity, water, gas, utilities, utility provider

What features will help you accomplish efficiency?

Bill addition reminders.
Bill due date reminders.
Pending bills summary notification at the end of the month, and at the beginning of the following month.
Pay my bills section
My properties section
And more

Utility Junction has helped customers like you:

Track their utilities in one place
Pay their utilities on time
Get organized
Analyze their utility expenses
Make sure the process of transferring their utilities is taken off their plate

So what happens when there is a change?

For example, when you move into a new house or apartment, you have to transfer your utilities to your name. Not a big deal, right? But it is for most people! Finding out if these services are available and how much they cost can be a hassle.

If your company deals with connecting and disconnecting utilities because you are a property manager, an iBuyer or a property investment company, you know the struggle firsthand. But you still do it because customer experience defines your success, right? And it does, but this doesn’t have to give you a hard time either.
Utility Junction makes sure that the hassle of transferring the utility services is taken off your to-do list. We manage it efficiently and smoothly for you.

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We are passionate about helping companies like yours save time and money through efficient utility management.
Let’s connect for a discovery call & we can discuss the challenges you are facing in your operations.
Contact us here or send us an email at support@utilityjunction.com

Surefire Ways to Lower Your Energy Bills in the Winter Months

March 1, 2022 by Carolina Narvaez

By Katie Conroy of advicemine.com.

When the temperature drops, the electricity bill often rises accordingly. Those chilly winter months can make it a real challenge when it comes to staying warm in your house, and most years, the energy bill reflects all that extra effort you have to put into keeping yourself and your family comfortable. At a certain point, however, it might be smart to start looking into ways you can lessen the amount of energy your home consumes so that you can save money on those bills each month.

You might even be surprised at some of the simple ways that you can easily shave dollars and cents off your energy bill. There are tons of strategies that can help you save money, from improving certain parts of your home to swapping out your old thermostat and/or furnace for ones that might be a bit more modern and energy-efficient.

Courtesy of Utility Junction, check out a few top strategies for saving money on your energy bill this coming winter…and perhaps even for years to come!

Consider Getting a New Furnace

Many homeowners might not realize that their outmoded appliances can seriously run up those energy bills. Getting yourself a new furnace — something of a major project — can be a seriously effective way of reducing your energy consumption and the bills that reflect it, especially in the long run.

A new furnace, in many instances, can cost you quite a bit of money depending on which type of unit you select. There are also labor costs to consider, of course; sometimes, this can account for a substantial amount of the total budget. You’ll want to look online to find the best contractor in your area who can get the job done. Someone who specializes in HVAC systems is probably going to get you the best results for a new furnace installation.

Something else to remember: certain home improvements, like investing in a new furnace, can also increase your home’s appraisal value. Just make sure you’re keeping and carefully organizing all those receipts!

Give Your Home a Spot Check

One of the things that can seriously impact your energy bill is the presence of things like cracks (especially in windows, though you’ll need to hire someone to replace window glass for you), intrusions, or gaps in places that should normally be sealed in your home. During the warmer months, these things might be easy to ignore, but they can contribute to a pretty expensive problem when it starts to get cold out. If you need home window repair, costs average $290 per window depending on the repair and window type. When working with window repair contractors, insist that they’re licensed and insured.

Another great way to lower the utility bills in your home is by finding small ways to reduce your overall energy consumption. Replacing standard light bulbs with LEDs, for example, is one great way to lower your bills.

Look into a Thermostat Upgrade

There are many smart thermostat options available now, and this type of upgrade is a great way to save money on utilities. A smart thermostat monitors your patterns throughout the day to learn the best times to increase and reduce temperature, thus ensuring your comfort at the ideal time as well as energy efficiency. Best of all, you can remotely control these thermostats from your smartphone or even via your home’s voice assistant.

There are plenty of ways to reduce your energy consumption and the bills that come along with it, especially as the weather starts to get colder. While this is normally a time of year that incurs extra costs, these strategies will help you save money and enjoy a comfortable living space at the same time, most likely for years to come.

The mission of Utility Junction is to simplify every aspect of your utilities from the moment you get in touch. With us by your side, it is that simple. Call 888-782-7885.

Need help with utility management? Send us an email at support@utilityjunction.com or reach out to us on any of our social media handles.

Locking In: Buying Your First Investment Property

February 11, 2022 by Carolina Narvaez

By Katie Conroy of advicemine.com.

In 2019, it was revealed that real estate had emerged as America’s favorite type of investment. With millions flocking to brick and mortar as a means to grow wealth, you’ll need to research thoroughly and act quickly if you want a high-potential property of your own.

Finding a Property

Unlike buying a property for occupancy, your reasons for buying an investment property are more likely to come down to monetary factors such as appreciation, rentability, or re-sellability. It’s important when looking at a location, to pay extra attention to its commercial appeal and demography – if you’re looking to rent the place out, you’ll want to find somewhere populous, with a good class of tenant, for example. Generally speaking, a property that can produce monthly rent equivalent to 2% of the purchase price is likely to produce a positive cash flow for the investor.

You’re buying a property to make money but, if done properly, the process should also involve spending some (on top of the purchase itself). Appraisers can help you to identify the objective value of a property and bypass much of the misleading information surrounding real estate, a buyer’s agent (realtor) will act as a source of knowledge, providing suggestions & narrowing down your options and it’s often worth enlisting the help of a home inspector to check structural integrity, plumbing and electricity before you proceed onto the buying stage.

Purchasing

When buying an investment property, it’s important to consider the added costs of property management before you enter into the buying process. Try to consider any added fees that might be spent on landscaping expenses, homeowner association fees, 3rd party property managers, or general maintenance.

If you’re held back by costs, you’ll find plenty of help from loan providers – private lenders often provide more flexible terms than conventional mortgage lenders when it comes to investment properties. Be aware, in comparison to loans for a personal residence, you are likely to pay a larger down payment with percentages around the 20-35% mark. An SBA 504 loan, for example, is perfect for commercial property purchases – with lower interest rates and up to 25 years in repayment terms.

Managing

You’ve found and bought a high-prospect investment property, congratulations! Now’s when the hard work starts. More often than not, an investment property will require renovation to increase its value, this is especially the point of a fixer-upper. If you’re in an area with high competition for renters, it could be worth considering some changes to improve the curb appeal – a new fence for the yard, for example, costs $4,500 on average (depending on materials, size of the fence, and place of installation). Be sure to use a platform like Angi to search for an ‘affordable fence company near me’ to receive a quote, then read online reviews and check for licenses before hiring any contractors.

If you’re taking in new tenants, it’s vital that you read up on your responsibilities as a landlord. Your property is much like a business and will require a few hours per week (minimum) for administration, comms, and maintenance. Unless you want to fork out for a property manager, you should be ready to spend money on repairs, replacements, and time on screening/maintaining tenants.

Properties often prove to be truly lucrative investments but, if you want to earn from them, you should expect to put in some hard work, or pay for the work of others. There’s plenty of competition on the market and landlords who have invested time (as well as money) are the most likely to profit.

Utility Junction is a utility management service on a mission to build utility connections, help you track utility expenses and expense analysis. Learn more about our unique services, at: www.utilityjunction.com

Image by Pexels

Need help with utility management? Send us an email at support@utilityjunction.com or reach out to us on any of our social media handles.

My First Impressions of Utility Junction

January 5, 2022 by Carolina Narvaez

Every time we get feedback from our users on Utility Junction, how it has made a meaningful difference, we are convinced we did the right thing. So this time, we decided to step out of our comfort zone and get no holds barred feedback from one of our users. We had fun reading this feedback received from Sonal Rajmohan – An investment banker, committed daughter supporting her mother and not to forget – one of our earliest adopters and were equally amazed. Have fun reading!!

Guess what? I was shocked.

I had just found out about the Utility Junction platform. And just like any other platform would do next, I was expecting to be led to their homepage.

What came next, was nothing I could have ever imagined.

In clear words, I was told ” You need to register first for a plan, please feel free to choose one at the Pricing Table”

Being the first time seeing this, I was a bit perplexed and at the same time, curious.

The first question that came to mind was; What was so special about their services that I had to go through a pricing table first?

And more importantly, what made them unique? What made them so different from every similar brand out there?

I decided to find out what was so special about them.

And my journey began!

At the Pricing Table:

The first thing I was offered was;

Peace of mind

It was as if they knew what I was looking for, and they went for it.

And then, I saw the free plan. It seemed so perfect!

Here I was, still skeptical, but I was being offered a “Try Me” Plan? Who was I to refuse?

I clicked on it and I was led to a signup page. Within a minute, I had filled in the necessary information.

While waiting for my account to be activated, I figured, why not browse around. You know, look closely into what I would be investing into.

And so I went back to the pricing table.

That was when things began to take a turn.

I paid closer attention to the other plans and their offerings were fantastic. In all, they had included everything I needed at that moment. The only thing left was to schedule a meeting, make the proper arrangements, and close the deal.

Next, I checked The Story Page

And one thing resounded with me.

They recognized a problem that was peculiar to mine. And they fully understood that Property Management was more than just rent and repairs.

I had struggled with these issues for a while, and to finally discover a brand that understood my needs, it seemed too good to be true.

Still elated and doubtful at the same time, I kept on reading

They offered all these solutions under one roof. It was like a dream come true.

I could see my utilities being efficiently managed, thereby giving me more time to focus on other parts of my business that mattered.

Still in the process, I moved on to The Solutions Page

Trust me; It was an Icing on the cake.

They offered customizable solutions to handle whatever utility management issues I had.

They had the experience, the tools, and most importantly, offered me round-the-clock support.

At this point, the only question left was; When can we start?

If you are looking for Reasons To join Utility Junction; some are listed below.

To make sure you do not miss them, I will list them below.

Clients are their priority. And that is why they have a 24/7 support system to take care of your needs.
On-time service delivery. That is the goal.
They offer customizable solutions specifically tailored to manage your utility problems. You have a need; they provide the answer.

Need some more? How about finding out for yourself? Trust me; it is going to be worth your time.

So, what do you think? Tell us by commenting on this blog.

Need help? Send us an email at support@utilityjunction.com or reach out to us on any of our social media handles.

Utility Management: The New Normal?

December 1, 2021 by Carolina Narvaez

There was a time everyone had to sit down and by themselves, calculate their cash flow – inflow and outflow from their operations. This practice is still very much ongoing. However, amidst this, there has sprung up a much better way to calculate costs and manage daily utilities.

In a time where technology is constantly evolving, people have begun to make the transition. A transition from the old-school approach to a more organized and automated system of managing utilities.

It is no longer about the “How”. But more about “Who”. Utility Management. Companies have continued to spring up and people no longer ask the question of “What do we use to solve our problem?” Instead, the question now is, “Who is the best fit to provide the professional services and support needed to help solve our problems?”

In this article, you’ll get step-by-step guidance on how to transition, adapt to this new normal. We’ll also look at proven strategies to curb usage, cut costs, and become more efficient.

Utility management helps you take control of your finances by saving time, money and energy. As a business owner; most especially property owners, it is crucial that you take steps towards reducing your utility management expenses as fast as possible.

To achieve this, the following strategies lead the way –

Stay focused on what you do best.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a big company or a startup. Knowing what you want in your business can make it easier to manage the resources you have. And also get the most out of them. If you’re not careful about expenses, they can get out of hand. In fact, the rising cost of inflation can end up hurting your bottom line as well. That is why, instead of trying to manage the utilities by yourself, take the logical step. Go with the utility management company.

Research and seek advice where necessary

Utility management companies have extensive knowledge and technical experience in –

handling issues related to utilities.
Handling issues related to utility costs and other bills.

Thus seeking advice from such a company on utility matters can help you –

discover the best approach to managing your utilities.
Monitoring your expenses is easier for you.

By doing so, you will be reducing costs and saving time as well.

Track and manage your spending and find efficient ways for you to spend your money as a business owner.

You cannot afford to spend lavishly without a budget in place to manage your resources. It is thus advisable that you enlist the help of a utility management company –

Who can study your business
Come up with innovative solutions tailored to your particular needs

Utility Management has indeed become the new normal of today. So instead of making use of the old-school method of managing your utilities by yourself, why not consider hiring a utility management company?

With the market packed with a wide array of utility management companies, pick the one who can partner with you. This allows you to focus on the aspects that matter the most. They’ll take on the hard part of managing your utilities.

We are passionate about helping companies like yours save time and money through efficient utility management.

Let’s connect for a discovery call & we can discuss the challenges you are facing in your operations.