Financial Approximations? (Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake: sales, real estate, apartment complexes)

[Felix-femme]

My college roomate and I are currently in NC, and plan a move to Chesapeake/Norfolk/Virginia Beach this summer. We're trying to put together a plan of what EXACTLY to expect as a maximum expense each month.

My important questions are:

-What is the Sanitation (trash pickup and sewage) cost?
-What is the standard water bill for two-three people?
-What is the standard electricity bill for 2-3 people?
-Being first time on-our-owners, are there any surprise fees/bills we should be watching for? (meaning.....anything non-aparment fee related I didn't just ask)

Questions I'm not as worried about but could use some help with:

-How much is it to adopt a cat from the ASPCA or other local shelters, plus do you know of any good vets and what the standard cat-checkup is?
-How much is a decent restaurant?
-What's the gas price right now?
-When/Where is the traffic bad? Do the Interstates back up during rush hour?

Are there any other fees we should be thinking of?

Thaaaaank you!
-Felix

[Erma]

Originally Posted by Felix-femme

My college roomate and I are currently in NC, and plan a move to Chesapeake/Norfolk/Virginia Beach this summer. We're trying to put together a plan of what EXACTLY to expect as a maximum expense each month.

My important questions are:

-What is the Sanitation (trash pickup and sewage) cost?
-What is the standard water bill for two-three people?
-What is the standard electricity bill for 2-3 people?
-Being first time on-our-owners, are there any surprise fees/bills we should be watching for? (meaning.....anything non-aparment fee related I didn't just ask)

Questions I'm not as worried about but could use some help with:

-How much is it to adopt a cat from the ASPCA or other local shelters, plus do you know of any good vets and what the standard cat-checkup is?
-How much is a decent restaurant?
-What's the gas price right now?
-When/Where is the traffic bad? Do the Interstates back up during rush hour?

Are there any other fees we should be thinking of?

Thaaaaank you!
-Felix

There are no "standard fees." You are charged by what you use and how much rain we have. Restaurants vary, just like where you live. McD's or a good Family owned restaurant? Family owned is around 18 a meal. Franchises are the same wherever you go.
Traffic is traffic...depending on an accident, breakdown or merge. Gas is around the same price as it is in carolina. It'll go up soon now that the election is over.
I would wait to find out where you are going to live, as many apartment complexes and landlords do not allow pets or charge an extra hundred a month to have one. Hold off on the pet, we are hard core animal lovers here and if your pet is neglected, we will tar and feather you.

[Felix-femme]

Oookay...I know that you're charged for what you use...well, my aunt has a 5 bedroom house in Virginia Beach, but only two people live there, so I'll assume our water bill will be about the same as hers? My roomate's mother and father also live in a house in Chesapeake, but since it's just two of them, we can probably put hers and my aunt's together for comparison and assume it'll be about that.

You say traffic is traffic, but where I've lived the past 18 years, only intown ever backs up, but I've heard that in the VA Beach area, the interstate backs up durring rush hour. Your city is about 16 times larger than where I live now.

Actually, if you go to rent.com, there is an option to show only apartments that are listed as pet friendly, and list the pet deposit fee, as well as any monthly fees (which is usually $10-50). We're planning ahead (nine months ahead, actually) so we are already gathering apartment-related fees and regulations...and some apartments include water and sanitation in the rent...that's why I'm trying to gather some high-ball numbers incase we fall in love with a place that doesn't include anything but unit fee.

Don't worry. I own three cats and a dog at my parents' house and have volunteered at an animal shelter for three years...I really think I know how to take care of it...as if the aspca didn't do enough background checks to make sure of the animal's placement...but thanks for the accusation...I appreciate it. My aunt is an ex-cop who works for a judge...the punishment for a crime would be pretty covered...but anybody who tried vigilante justice would get put in jail for assault.

[Erma]

Originally Posted by Felix-femme

Don't worry. I own three cats and a dog at my parents' house and have volunteered at an animal shelter for three years...I really think I know how to take care of it...as if the aspca didn't do enough background checks to make sure of the animal's placement...but thanks for the accusation...I appreciate it. My aunt is an ex-cop who works for a judge...the punishment for a crime would be pretty covered...but anybody who tried vigilante justice would get put in jail for assault.

rofl...just playing with ya and I have friends who are cops and lawyers and all that good stuff, but realistically, no one is challenging your animal care, but we do take pet care very seriously and too many pets end up at the spca because people rent places where pets just don't have enough room to be pets.

[shellytc]

Felix-femme, excellent questions!! and pretty darn smart to put your detailed budget together so far in advance.

I can help with some of your questions.

It is about $80 to adopt a cat from the Va. beach SPCA (that includes the spaying). You can get reduced vet care from them as well.

Gas Prices are pretty good right now, and I am going to say right around $2. some are under that and some over.... BUT gas is volatile and will change before you move here.

If you are renting in an ap't, the water, sewage, trash pickup should be included in the price. If you are renting from a private individual, ask them....

Traffic does back up. the major roads (Va. Beach Blvd, Laskin Blvd, Independence Blvd in Va. Beach; Chesapeake the 2 main roads in and out Great Bridge Blvd and Dominion Blvd; the interstate 64 and 264) But you learn to get around and where to avoid at certain times.

shelly

[Erma]

Originally Posted by shellytc

Felix-femme, excellent questions!! and pretty darn smart to put your detailed budget together so far in advance.

I can help with some of your questions.

It is about $80 to adopt a cat from the Va. beach SPCA (that includes the spaying). You can get reduced vet care from them as well.

Gas Prices are pretty good right now, and I am going to say right around $2. some are under that and some over.... BUT gas is volatile and will change before you move here.

If you are renting in an ap't, the water, sewage, trash pickup should be included in the price. If you are renting from a private individual, ask them....

Traffic does back up. the major roads (Va. Beach Blvd, Laskin Blvd, Independence Blvd in Va. Beach; Chesapeake the 2 main roads in and out Great Bridge Blvd and Dominion Blvd; the interstate 64 and 264) But you learn to get around and where to avoid at certain times.

shelly

She stated her Aunt lives in Virginia Beach, she is getting the expert advice. Her Aunt is a smart lady!

[shellytc]

Originally Posted by Erma

She stated her Aunt lives in Virginia Beach, she is getting the expert advice. Her Aunt is a smart lady!

I don't even know what you are trying to say???? The poster was asking questions, this is a forum of our area to help answer those questions. She is smart to be asking. What is your point??????

shelly

[Erma]

Originally Posted by shellytc

I don't even know what you are trying to say???? The poster was asking questions, this is a forum of our area to help answer those questions. She is smart to be asking. What is your point??????

shelly

Oh sheesh! She said her Aunt lived in Virginia Beach on her second post and was basing her approximations on that. Quit blowing it out of proportion....as always.

[shellytc]

I'm sorry, but I don't think I blow things out of proportion, "as always". There was no reason to quote my answer to the OP and make snide comments.

Shelly

[Erma]

Originally Posted by shellytc

I'm sorry, but I don't think I blow things out of proportion, "as always". There was no reason to quote my answer to the OP and make snide comments.

Shelly

Read more carefully, like you should have done before when you accused me of saying YOU were selling something when all I did was reply as to why you asked me if I liked living here. All I was doing was referring to the land sales in North Carolina and of course because you're in real estate, you're under the assumption that we should plug sales in Virginia when in all honesty, it's cheaper in N. Carolina. You can take what you read with a grain of salt or read more into it, but folks who have lived here a long time know that it's cheaper in carolina. If that's taking away from your livilihood, so be it, but why lead people to believe anything other than the truth? This doesn't have to turn into a drama session everytime you and I disagree.