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I just realized something when I inspected a foreclosed property recently and I would like to share it here. While doing inspections of foreclosed properties as part of due diligence, always check the condition of the service entrances for utilities like the electricity and water. I failed to do this twice for foreclosed properties I have acquired recently, and only learned about these after I had already acquired those properties. However, I would like to spare all beginning real estate investors out there from the potential problems that may happen if you overlook this. Let me try to run through the potential problems below.
No signs of the Meralco meter…
If the Meralco meter does not exist, most probably you will have to apply for a new connection and you need to consider the lead time for this along with the actual installation time. Yes, you will need to spend time and money applying for a new connection and all the hassles associated with it like visiting the concerned Meralco branch to apply for the connection, waiting for the inspection, securing the electrical inspection certificate at the city hall, submission of the final electrical inspection certification to the concerned Meralco branch, paying for a new deposit, waiting for the installation of the meter base, etc. This may sound intimidating for some but I enjoyed doing it, because I like learning new things and getting out of my comfort zone.
Imagine this scenario: you bought a foreclosed property, started fixing it up, found a buyer, and closed the deal with an agreement that they will move in once the repairs are finished – BUT, there is no electricity. Do you think the buyer will move in? I don’t think so. Do you think this can be a deal breaker? Maybe. This almost happened to me but thankfully the electricity was installed just in time because it just so happens that the Meralco Branch that covers the area where the property was located gave very fast service (Kudos to the Meralco Cainta branch where I applied for a new connection and the Masinag branch where the inspector was based!). It helped that when I applied for the new connection, I had with me one of the billing statements that I found on the floor of the foreclosed property. I gave it along with other requirements to the person handling my application and he said that since the house was already in the system, they will just update the records to reflect that I was the new owner and I should expect their inspector to visit the property the next day. Yes, they were that fast as the inspector really did come the next day. I was very glad that electricity was up and running in less than three weeks unlike in Dinah’s case where it took 122 days.
If the Meralco meter is intact
In contrast, if the Meralco meter did exist, then there is a high probability that all you have to do is just settle the arrears left by the previous owner. Before, I used to depend on the bank to find out just how much exactly the arrears would be but I realized that an alternative source for this information was literally under my nose, lying on the floor to be exact. If you have inspected a foreclosed property before, one of the first things you would notice are the bills and mails that are scattered all over the place. If you are just like me, you would often just stay clear from them and would not even consider looking at them. I realized that these bills can actually give you a wealth of information such as: who was the previous owner, how long have the bills been left unpaid based on the earliest notice of disconnection you may find, and most importantly, how much are the arrears which are sometimes for the account of the buyer. Sure, the bills lying around might not be up to the current month but you can always bring it to the Meralco branch covering the area and ask for an updated statement of account (SOA).
In fact, this was exactly what I did a few days ago, with the help of my broker. She picked up a bill lying on the floor, gave it to me and told me to just pay the arrears. I was very lucky because I no longer had to apply for a new connection. I then went to the nearest Meralco branch and asked for an updated SOA. Lo and behold, it was higher than I anticipated but was still just about the same amount I would need to pay as a non-refundable deposit if I was to apply for a new connection. Not bad.
On a lighter note, when I gave the bill to the cashier, she said “Ah sir, check ko lang ulit kasi mukhang disconnected na kayo… oo nga disconnected na kayo, hindi ho bagay sa inyo” (“Ah sir, I’ll just double check as it seems your account has been disconnected… yes I have confirmed that it has been disconnected, you don’t seem to look like someone who would have his electricity disconnected”). I couldn’t help but smile. I just said that “I have just purchased the property and as the new owner, I just want to settle the arrears”. With electricty intact, the renovation can proceed anytime.
I wish I can say the same for the water connection but that’s another story. 
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Happy Real Estate Investing!
To our financial freedom!
Jay Castillo
Real Estate Investor
REBL#: 20056
Blog: http://www.foreclosurephilippines.com
Social Network: http://foreclosurephilippines.ning.com
Mobile: +639178843882
E-mail: ph.investor@gmail.com
Text by Jay Castillo. Copyright © 2009 All rights reserved.
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