Utility Billing, RUBS & Revenue Strategies for Multifamily Pros

The 5% Rule: How One Utility Billing Shift Added $1M to Our Property Value

by: Tiffany MittalPublished on: 08/26/2025

Discover how a simple shift in utility billing transformed our 36-unit building in El Cajon, California, adding over $1M in property value without raising rents or renovating kitchens. This post introduces BRRRR 2.0, a smarter spin on the traditional Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat strategy. By implementing RUBS (Ratio Utility Billing System), we cut hidden expenses, boosted NOI, and unlocked forced appreciation at scale. If you’re a multifamily operator or landlord still covering water, sewer, or trash, this story shows how you may be sitting on hundreds of thousands in untapped value—and how tools like Utility Ranger make it simple to capture