Here’s a timely end-of-year tip for heads of Mountain Crest households—or, more precisely, for the family member who has been designated to keep track of the household finances. This is the individual who is Keeper of the Shoebox (or kitchen drawer) filled with 2023 receipts—usually, also someone who knows how to deal with the Excel or Quicken application that pays and manages online bill-paying.
By default, this person will also be responsible for coming up with the figures that Uncle Sam wants to hear about at tax time. If a refund is in the offing, the best “tax time” for family cashflow purposes is closer to Rose Parade time than to April 15th. So, for those who itemize expenses, here’s the timely tip:
While you’re going through the year’s receipts, set aside all the utility bills (if you routinely track them month by month, you’re already ahead of the game). Since you have to go through the year’s financial records, this is the easiest time to isolate the utility bill totals, which can serve a couple of purposes.
First of all, knowing precisely how much of your household budget is being spent on each utility may be an eye-opener—and might document the dollars to be saved by revamping one or more of your Mountain Crest home’s mechanical systems. Recent energy-saving refinements in water heaters, furnaces, washers, and dryers—in fact, almost all appliances—may pay for themselves within a few years. Knowing exactly what your current utility expenses are is the place to start.
Secondly, in case the future may see you putting your Mountain Crest home on the market, having the household utility expenditure totals readily available will save the hassle of having to dig up past records at the same time you are trying to pre-pack. More significantly, if those totals are high enough to give prospective buyers second thoughts, you may decide to eliminate the inefficiencies before they can become an issue. That strategy would also allow you to start enjoying the savings yourself—in addition to later being able to point out your property’s energy-efficient devices.
Whether or not your 2024 plans will include a Mountain Crest home sale or purchase, please feel free to give me a call whenever local real estate questions arise!
This Mountain Crest Real Estate – Cumming GA blog is hosted by Gayle Barton of BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HomeServices Georgia Properties. As a homeowner in the neighborhood, I specialize in Real Estate sales in the Mountain Crest neighborhood in Cumming, GA.
Selling a home in the Mountain Crest neighborhood in Cumming, GA? Please check out Our Selling Strategy to see how we can help you.
You can view homes for sale in the Mountain Crest development (built by Lennar).
Gayle Barton South Forsyth Real Estate | Cumming GA Real Estate
Gayle Barton Cumming GA Real Estate | South Forsyth Real Estate
My clients needs are my number one priority and putting them first is how I distinguish myself from other agents in my area. 
