WOT. Propane usage in Michigan.

[shatar4]

I am debating buying a house in Webberville Mich. and it has propane for heat. I am from a natural gas house and do not know how much the normal usage is or even how much it cost to heat a house for the winter. If anyone uses propane, can you educate me on your average cost and how much you use. I am thinking of buying a 3000 square foot house if that matters. This could be the deal breaker if it's to much. (PS. It's 4Cruizn listing. I seen his sign on the road)Thanks

[4Cruizn]

I typically use Parkers Propane for the homes that I have for sale and they give me a pretty good deal.  It will depend on what kind of furnace is in the home and how efficient it is.  Also what else runs on gas . . stove, water heater, dryer, fireplace??   What is the address of the home . . . probably my brother's listing as I don't think I have anything in Webberville at this time personally?  Have you seen the inside yet?  I can show it to you if you'd like  . . . if you haven't.     

[Bullitt-]

Ask the property owner to provide fuel purchase history for the past year or better, same with utilities, so you'll have some idea of what your getting into.

[4Cruizn]

Ask the property owner to provide fuel purchase history for the past year or better, same with utilities, so you'll have some idea of what your getting into.

Good idea but most of the homes for sale in this area are foreclosures and the bank has no information . . . 

[shatar4]

The only thing that runs on propane is the water heater and the furnace. I'm not sure what company services it but it has a light brown tank with dark brown cap. I did see inside earlier today with my real estate person.

I typically use Parkers Propane for the homes that I have for sale and they give me a pretty good deal.  It will depend on what kind of furnace is in the home and how efficient it is.  Also what else runs on gas . . stove, water heater, dryer, fireplace??   What is the address of the home . . . probably my brother's listing as I don't think I have anything in Webberville at this time personally?  Have you seen the inside yet?  I can show it to you if you'd like  . . . if you haven't.   

[shatar4]

This is a bank owned so I wouldn't know who to contact.

Ask the property owner to provide fuel purchase history for the past year or better, same with utilities, so you'll have some idea of what your getting into.

[Bullitt-]

Are there multiple gas dealers? Possibly see if you can find out who provided the gas & they could give you a list of service dates & amounts... As for utilities this might be had by inquiring with the local utility company..           Oooorrrrr... Buy it cheep enough & invest in more insulation.

[4Cruizn]

Yep it is for sale with my company and listed with my brother . . he gets most of the fannie may listings in this area.  Its a good looking house, already reduced once 10K.  If it had been on the other side of the road, it would of been in Livingston county.  Plenty of room for the nice pole barn to store the cars! 

[alphabuck]

presumably theres a 500 gallon lp tank on site.  over the last 5 years in wisconsin ive seen lp as low as 1.44 a gallon and as high as 2.30 a gallon.

it would be reasonable to expect youre going to need 2 tanks to get you through a winter in michigan in a 3000 sq ft house. 
i do know of folks in my area who can make it on one tank and supplemental wood burning.

just my rough guesstimate but id say a good ballpark figure is youre going to use 1200 gallons of lp a year to heat your home and water. 

[shatar4]

Yep it is for sale with my company and listed with my brother . . he gets most of the fannie may listings in this area.  Its a good looking house, already reduced once 10K.  If it had been on the other side of the road, it would of been in Livingston county.  Plenty of room for the nice pole barn to store the cars! 

Well, I put a bid in today for it so hopefully I'm the highest of the 3. Can I get some Mopar prayers so it go's my way?

[DMZ73]

Heck yeah.
Good luck.

Dan

[shatar4]

Thanks Dan. I want this house BAD!!

[alphabuck]

if you do end up with this thing stay away from " keep fill " programs with your lp supplier.  if youre at 40% of tank capacity and the price is about to drop a dime a gallon you will get a fill before it does.

conversely if the price is about to rise 10 cents a gallon next week well theyll let you slide to 30% before they come fill you after the price increase

[shatar4]

Good info. Thanks. The way I look at it is I have a 33% chance of getting the house.

[Topcat]

Good Luck.