Havent noticed a big change in the electricity bill.

If you have a hybrid / electric car :FREE Hybrid and Electric Parking:The Colorado Convention Center Parking Garage has designated reserved parking stalls for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles for up to 8 hours of FREE parking.

There are gas-burning, pellet-style and electric fireplaces that achieve the same ambiance without the risk of pests, fires, accidents and damage.

For me...Full cosmetic (paint inside/out, siding/sheetrock repairs, flooring, cabinets, finish electrical, finish plumbing, HVAC maintenance, outlets/switches/registers/etc) for a low-end rehab runs about $10/sf.Anything over 15 years old (assume new HVAC, roof and water heater) for a low-end rehab runs about $15/sf.Full gut (including new siding, new roof, all new sheetrock, new plumbing, new electrical, new HVAC, etc) for a low- to mid-end rehab runs about $30-35/sf.But remember, that's based on my location, the contractors I use, the management structure I have in place, the materials I use, the types of houses I rehab, the incentive structure I have for my contractors, and a whole host of other things that are very specific to my rehabs.

I have been in Fort Collins for 17 years, am an electrical contrractor and my wife and I just getting started in real estate investing.

Established with all the "start up" stuff already done and all the bugs worked out, existing customers and operating money... etc.Cons...

These offer much more positive control than a conventional thermostat in a lockbox in the hallway.For electrical, the obvious...switch to cfl's or T8 fluorescents with electronic ballast; High pressure sodium or other efficient exterior lights that should be on dusk to dawn sensors only.

For a long time, we didn't have electricity because I couldn't afford it.

That should put you into the springtime months when people are looking to move about, after you do quite a bit of cleanup, repainting, repairing whatever else, and do not forget the bug man for a good treatment as you are likely to have a infestation that has not been discovered yet.

Just passing along info in the hopes of helping get to the root of these bugs.