You find a home with rent that fits your budget. Then you remember electricity. And internet. And the washer and dryer you thought came with it. Before a good-looking listing becomes a budget surprise, find out what that monthly number actually includes.
At Putnam Properties, we want you to bring these questions to your tour. Moving out for the first time, sharing with roommates, or finding a place of your own? A clear cost breakdown makes it easier to choose a Cookeville home you can comfortably afford.
✨ Start With Rent, Then Check the Extras
Look at the listing and lease for included services, then ask about anything that isn’t clear. For more to check before you sign, see 10 questions to ask before signing a lease in Cookeville. Don’t assume electricity, water, internet, or laundry equipment comes with the home just because you saw it at another property.
| Expense | Ask This Before You Sign |
|---|---|
| Rent | What is the monthly amount, when is it due, and how do I pay? |
| Water and sewer | Are these included? If not, who bills me and how is the charge calculated? |
| Electricity | Who serves this address, and do I need my own account? |
| Trash | Where does it go, when is pickup, and is there a separate charge? |
| Internet | Is a plan included, or do I arrange and pay for service? |
| Washer and dryer | Are machines included, or are there only hookups? |
| Parking | What spaces can I use, and are permits or extra fees involved? |
| Pet costs | What upfront and monthly charges apply to my pet at this home? |
| Pool, clubhouse, and fitness center | Which amenities are available at this property, and is access included in rent or charged monthly? |
Use this as a tour checklist, not a list of promised inclusions. Ask us to confirm the details for the home you like. At Putnam Properties, access to the amenities a property offers is included in rent, with no separate monthly access fee. Not every property has a pool, clubhouse, or fitness center, so check what is available at the home you’re considering.
💡 Ask Exactly How Water Is Billed
“Is water included?” is a good start. Follow it with, “If it isn’t, who sends the bill?” You want to know whether you open an account, pay a charge through management, or have another arrangement explained in the lease.
Ask how sewer is handled, too, and whether the amount is fixed or varies. Write the answer next to that home’s rent so you can compare it fairly with your other options.
If a listing says “utilities included,” ask which ones and whether any usage limits or additional charges apply. Get the details before you decide what to budget.
💡 Check the Electricity Provider for Your Address
The city name alone won’t always identify your electricity provider. Cookeville notes that some homes within its boundaries receive service from another utility. Confirm the provider for your exact address before opening an account. The city’s Electric Department information points residents to Customer Service if they’re unsure.
Ask when service needs to begin and what setup fees or deposits apply. If you already have an account, ask the provider how a transfer works. Don’t leave the start date until you’re standing in the kitchen with a moving box.
Avoid using a friend’s bill as your promised monthly cost. Ask the provider whether historical usage information or a budgeting estimate is available for the address, and check what the estimate includes. Your usage and the weather can still change the bill.
📶 Get Internet Ready Before You Need It
A late-night assignment or a video meeting is a rough time to discover that you haven’t arranged internet service. Check whether a plan is included, which providers can serve the address, and whether you need to schedule installation.
Ask for the full bill: equipment, installation, promotional pricing, and the price after the promotion ends. If several people will stream or work online at once, tell the provider. Your internet plan needs to handle your household, not just one person checking email.
“Wired for internet” does not tell you that a paid plan is included or ready to use. Ask for the actual service details.
💡 Include Trash and Yard Responsibilities
Find out where trash goes, when it is collected, and whether service costs extra. If you’re moving with a worn-out couch, ask how bulky-item disposal works instead of assuming you can leave it beside a bin.
For any home with a yard, ask who handles mowing and routine upkeep. If it’s your responsibility, think about the equipment, time, and cost before you commit.
Put yard care in your comparison notes, too. A yard can be a great fit; an unexpected lawn-mower shopping trip is less appealing.
💸 Check Whether Laundry Machines Are Actually Included
“Washer and dryer hookups” tells you there are connections, not that machines come with the home. Look at the specific listing and ask what will be there when you move in.
If machines are included or offered separately, ask what they cost and who handles repairs. If you plan to bring your own, confirm that they are allowed and compatible with the hookups before paying to move them.
🐾 Budget for Your Pet Separately
If you’re bringing a pet, your charges depend on the PetScreening results and the property’s rules. Our PetScreening guide explains the profile and review process, and the profile itself is on the Putnam Properties PetScreening site. Once your screening is reviewed, ask us to confirm your upfront charges and any monthly pet rent so you can build your budget around your actual costs.
Assistance-animal accommodation requests follow a separate review process. Use the appropriate profile described in our PetScreening guide, and contact us about your request rather than budgeting for an assistance animal as an ordinary household pet.
Tell us about your pet before making plans around a listing, and ask for the rules that apply to that specific home.
💸 Make a Separate Move-In Budget
Monthly rent is only one part of getting the keys. Ask about deposits, the first rent payment, utility setup, and any other upfront charges. Our application fee is $30 and nonrefundable, so we recommend touring and asking your questions before you apply.
Each person over age 18 who will live in the home needs to complete an application. Ask us how the application fee applies to your household so you can budget accurately.
Ask for a breakdown showing what you owe, when you owe it, and which amounts are refundable. Then add your own moving costs, such as a truck, furniture, and household basics. Even the boring purchases count. Trash cans rarely make the apartment mood board.
👯 Try This Roommate Budget
Here’s a simple way to work out your share, using the numbers for the home you’re considering:
- Your rent: the amount on your own lease.
- Shared utilities and internet: add up those bills, then take your part of the split.
- Your total: those two numbers added together, before groceries, transportation, insurance, and other costs.
Your part of the shared bills belongs in the comparison. Each roommate applies and gets their own lease, so agree on how you'll split the shared bills that aren't part of rent.
💸 Compare the Full Monthly Cost
Put the full numbers side by side before choosing between two homes: rent, separate bills, and upfront costs. Browse homes on our site, then schedule your tour and bring your questions. Call Putnam Properties at 931-520-0859, and we’ll talk through what’s included at the home you’re considering.
To schedule a tour, we need a copy of your ID and four weeks’ worth of proof of income, such as pay stubs, bank statements, or an award letter. We prequalify tours so you spend your time viewing homes that fit your budget. Contact our office for instructions on providing those documents. We offer virtual tours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time, through FaceTime or Google Meet.
