In our experience, the only difference in costs between when we are there and not is related to weather and daylight and of course use. Inside water use is basically just the standard service charge when we are not there, the same with sewer use fee. But there is still the outside irrigation, which uses more gallons in the summer. Garbage and amenity fee is the same. Our utility bill this month, including $195.34 amenity fee is $282.62. Last month, it was $277.54. The biggest item aside from the amenity fee is irrigation. Also garbage pickup remains the same at $22.52. By comparison, when were there in February, March, and April of this year, the bills were $308, $320, and $305.
Electric with SECO is basically a/c. We keep ours set at 80 and there is 1,938 sq. feet. This month the bill was $82. Last month it was $89. February, March and April when we were there was $110, 110, and $142.
We pay the same for grass cutting and treatments year round. For the months we are not there, we pay $60 for Home Watch services which is the best $60 a month we spend in The Villages in my opinion. Our Home Watch is excellent and gives us great peace of mind (Relax Home Watch--outstanding, but I don't think they serve north of Brownwood).
Best of luck. A few blink cameras or similar may give you some more peace of mind. Basically, the costs are not dramatically different when we are there and when we are not. It's under $100 less in the summer per months, but we pay $60 for the Home Watch so that's where much of that savings goes so I find it to be pretty consistent all year round.
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