[aquafit2]

Ok, I would like to compare (to Tampa) the monthly costs of living in Avon, Simsbury, Glastonbury, or West Hartford. This would be for a family of 4 with a house in the 3800 sq ft - 4000 sq. feet range..

Water and sewer $110
Lawn Care $100
out doors Weed and pest control $60
Indoor pest control $21
electricity $300-400
Natural Gas $15 (just used for my hot tub and barbque grill)
Laundry for dress shirts (per shirt) $1.35
garbage collection $ included in taxes
Golf, swim and tennis club $114
Toll roads $120
three dance classes a week for my daughter $120
semi private tennis lessons for my 16 yr old son $210 for 10-1 hour lessons

I may think of others but that is all for now. If you can give me estimates I would appreciate it!!

[S2000]

A 2 bedroom 1200sqft house in Milford -

Water and sewer $75 every 3 months
Lawn Care $n/a - rockscaped the yard.
out doors Weed and pest control $n/a rockscaped the yard.
Indoor pest control $n/a we dont have bugs like down south.
electricity $1500 a year includes a 240v hottub. The rates have been climbing too.
Natural Gas $1000 a year depends on how efficient your house is and at what temp you keep it at.
Laundry for dress shirts (per shirt) $1.10-1.50 a shirt
garbage collection $ included in taxes
Golf, swim and tennis club $n/a don't golf although many public places.
Toll roads $no tolls in CT
three dance classes a week for my daughter $n/a you will need to call around
semi private tennis lessons for my 16 yr old son $n/a you will need to call around

Biggest expense you will have to keep track of is electricity because lately its been climbing in our area. Also I'd note the yearly property taxes as well.

[wanderintonc]

You probably won't need indoor pest control. Garbage may or may not be included-I paid (last year) $34 per month. Water and sewer is hard to figure, depends on do you have a pool, ect.

Where you are defenitely going to spend more, is electricity/utililies. You have to heat that big house. And if it has air conditioning, that costs too. I moved to a 1450 sq ft place last summer that central air, we actually ran it (I never had that before) and our bill was $375!!! Needless to say, we turned it off and got the fans back out. But what will really hurt is heat. It will vary if you have oil, electric or gas. But, you're talking hundreds per month in the winter, especially for a house that size.

I don't know about the golf club thing, or the lawn care. But you only have to pay for lawn care for 6 or 7 months. You can either do snow removal yourself, or pay someone-that varies depending on driveway size.

[KH02]

i pay 650 a MONTH to heat a 1600 sq foot place.
I knew someone with a 3000 sq foot home who paid over 1000 a month to heat it, and they kept it cool. So that will be MUCH higher.

[skytrekker]

Originally Posted by KH02

i pay 650 a MONTH to heat a 1600 sq foot place.
I knew someone with a 3000 sq foot home who paid over 1000 a month to heat it, and they kept it cool. So that will be MUCH higher.

Wow that is high-- how old is your home? Heating with oil? I have an 1100 square foot townhouse-2 levels- and paid from December through March this year about $400 to heat with natural gas- thats for all 3 months.

[KH02]

We have electric heat. The home was built in the 50's. But we cant turn it down like most people do during the day as young children are here all day long since one of us stays home.

[andthentherewere3]

We have oil heat for our 1600 square foot home. Our monthly oil bills for the coldest months last year were about $325-350.00. I kept the thermostat at 62 during the day, and 58 at night. I'm a SAHM to three kids, the youngest is 4. It was definitely chilly in the house. I dread the coming winter, since right now oil is even higher. Hopefully it will drop, but I have little hope.

Water and sewer ~ about $130.00 quarterly for water, $200 every other year for septic
Lawn Care ~I mow and fertilize our acre (partially wooded) myself
out doors Weed and pest control ~no pest control
Indoor pest control~no indoor pest control
electricity~about $200.00 a month, $300+ in summer for window AC's
Natural Gas~about $100.00 a year for propane for our range; natural gas isn't available in my town
Laundry for dress shirts (per shirt)~n/a
garbage collection $55.00 per month
Golf, swim and tennis club~n/a
Toll roads~n/a
three dance classes a week for my daughter~n/a
semi private tennis lessons for my 16 yr old son~n/a

And don't forget cable and phone service. We have our cable TV and phone service bundled into one package; it's about $200.00 a month and includes all movie channels, and free long-distance calls

[JViello]

Originally Posted by aquafit2

Ok, I would like to compare (to Tampa) the monthly costs of living in Avon, Simsbury, Glastonbury, or West Hartford.

Water and sewer $200 every three years (Septic and well water.)
Lawn Care $0 (Mow my own)
out doors Weed and pest control $30 year. (Bag of Scotts spread once/twice a year)
Indoor pest control $0 (No need)
electricity $125-200 month (Seasonal)
Natural Gas $40 month (Cooking and hot water only)
Laundry for dress shirts (per shirt) $2.00
garbage collection $ 0 (town collection)
Golf, swim and tennis club N/A
Toll roads $0 (No tolls - It's in the gas tax)
three dance classes a week for my daughter $N/A
semi private tennis lessons for my 16 yr old son $210 for 10-1 hour lessons N/A

Hope that helps a little anyway.

[bugra]

Hi Everyone,
I and 2 of my friends have applied for the masters degree in University of Hartford and I think we will be in hartford in january 15th. We started searching for housing in West Hartford on the net and we found 4 bedroom houses and apartment flats. We are trying to decide which will be affordable for us. I have read above you wrote and it helped a lot. Thanks for that. We were planning for a home with ptivate yard, garage. I mean not apartment. I dont know the word for it. But those expenses you told are way more than I tought. We planed to give $2000 for the whole housing including heating, electricity, water... What do you think. Sholud we start looking for apartment flats.. Or can we make it in a home with whole expenses?
Thanks for your help.

[KH02]

with only $2000 a month for ALL bills that will be tight to live in a 4 bedroom home in West Hartford. It will be tough to find a 4 bedroom in W Htfd for less then 2000 a month period and that will not include anything.
Once you add water, heat, ac, television, phone etc you will be closer to 3000 a month living in w hartford.
You could TRY an apartment, but I dont think you will find one there with 4 bedrooms. sorry.