Question for Homeowners

[Bateluer]

Approximately, how much do you pay monthly for electricity? Gas? Water? Trash pick? The reason I ask is that I am looking at purchasing a house, and I'm currently reviewing my budget.

Also, the house would be in the Phoenix AZ area, so I already know I can expect my electic bill to be pretty high. I assume the water bill will be fairly high as well, but I have no prior experience with paying for water utilities. Both apartments I've lived at included the water utility with the monthly rent.

Edit - Location made more specific.

 

[MrCodeDude]

We live in CA. I'm sure my number will make you squirm.

Electricity is around $150/month

 

Gas + Electricity for me is about $45/mo. on average. This is in a multi-unit building (condominium) in SE Michigan.

 

[woowoo]

$80 (Electricity)
$30 (Gas)
$18 (Water)
$50 every three months (Trash)

 

[tw1164]

if you're planning to buy a home there, ask the current owners for the average cost of their utility bills for the past year.

 

[iamwiz82]

Last month my bills were:

$35 - Electric
$30 - Gas
$12 - Water
$20 - Garbage


I'm in SE Michigan. that included approximately a week of full AC when it was in the mid 90s.

 

[shilala]

Electric- $180-200
Gas-$0
Water-$13
Sewer-$0
Trash-$24 (I think)
Cable/Broadband-$90
Phones-$200ish

 

[SearchMaster]

Sheesh.

My electric bill in the summer runs almost $400/mo. About $200/mo the rest of the year. No gas, water is ~$12. But it's all VERY dependent on where you live. So asking us is pointless; ask people in the area you'll be living.

 

[TStep]

Usually the Realtor can provide that information, house specific, from previous utility bills if you ask.

 

[rudder]

Every locale is different. You can easily obtain records for the house you want to buy that show at least a years worth of utility charges.

 

[Fritzo]

I live in a 2 floor house w/basement. Electicity goes from $80-$200 (depending on time of year with AC, Christmas lights, etc). Gas goes from $10 to $300 depending on season. We have gas heat and water.

That's in NW Ohio. City takes care of trash pickup, so no cost there. I live next to the Great Lakes, so water is only $90 every 3 months.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I'm in a one floor 1500 sq ft house. I have gas heat/gas range and central A/C

Electric -- $100 summer $70 winter
Gas -- $80 winter $15 summer
Water -- $28-40 depending on how many visits from family, etc
Sewer -- Included with water figures
Trash Pickup -- City Taxes

 

[kitkat22]

Two things that will help in keeping down costs are to use an electronic thermostat where you can adjust the temp during the day, etc, using fluorescent lighting and adjusting the heat on the water heater. Those three things will help out immensely, just remember to turn lights off when you leave a room or when your gone for the day. I can still hear my dad yelling at us kids for leaving the garage light on

 

[KingPhil]

I own a 1000 SF home in Rochester, NY.

Gas & Electric: Summer time = $130 Winter = $200
Water: Every 3 months, about $45
Trash: Every other month, $40
Digital Cable w/ Roadrunner: $90
Vonage: 500 minute plan = $16
Mortgage: $859

 

[BAMAVOO]

Electric - $170-185 summer $300 average winter
Gas - $200-250 yearly (Propane)
Water - $38
Trash - Whatever it costs me in gas to take it.

2200 square feet with 21' ceilings on both ends of the house.

 

[KingPhil]

Originally posted by: Bateluer
Approximately, how much do you pay monthly for electricity? Gas? Water? Trash pick? The reason I ask is that I am looking at purchasing a house, and I'm currently reviewing my budget.

Also, the house would be in the Phoenix AZ area, so I already know I can expect my electic bill to be pretty high. I assume the water bill will be fairly high as well, but I have no prior experience with paying for water utilities. Both apartments I've lived at included the water utility with the monthly rent.

Edit - Location made more specific.

I did call up the utility companies, and they can give you an estimate as to what it is costing the current owner / month.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Our electric & gas is one bill, usually during the summer it runs around $125-150/mo (around $85-90 during winter). Water & trash is also combined on one bill and it's usually around $80/mo. This is for a 2,200 sq ft house in SoCal.

 

[GeorgiaBadger]

last bills
126 electric
47 Gas (heat, water)
19 for water
48 every quarter for trash
Change the elec and gas for winter
4500sq that is heated and cooled with 2 ac/heat units and 1 heat pump for the basement

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: GeorgiaBadger
last bills
126 electric
47 Gas (heat, water)
19 for water
48 every quarter for trash
Change the elec and gas for winter
4500sq that is heated and cooled with 2 ac/heat units and 1 heat pump for the basement

You heat and cool 4500 sq feet for $126/month????? :shocked: What, do you have solar panels on your roof or something??? 4500 sq ft is like mansion size!

 

[Jaxidian]

In Indianapolis

Gas & Electric: ~$175
Water: ~$40 (we water our lawn daily)
Trash: ~$15
Cable TV/Internet: ~$80
Mortgage+Insurance+taxes: ~$900

 

[gscone]

Long Island, NY

Home is 5500sq Ft

Gas- $350
Electric- 400-500
Water- $125
Dish- $150
Cablevision triple Play- $125
Maid- $500

All of these are monthly expenses.

 

[GeorgiaBadger]

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: GeorgiaBadger
last bills
126 electric
47 Gas (heat, water)
19 for water
48 every quarter for trash
Change the elec and gas for winter
4500sq that is heated and cooled with 2 ac/heat units and 1 heat pump for the basement

You heat and cool 4500 sq feet for $126/month????? :shocked: What, do you have solar panels on your roof or something??? 4500 sq ft is like mansion size!

That was for June (moderate heat - now July is going to be around 220 I expect)

 

[IronWing]

Tucson, 1350 sq ft

Water/Sewer: 28/month
Garbage: 17/month
Electric: 40/month, high in Summer, low in Winter
Gas: 40/month, high in Winter, low in Summer

Tips for energy savings in a Phoenix house:
Buy a house where the long axis of the house runs east-west
Native trees on the east, south, and west sides are your friends
Wide eves on south side of house
High ceilings + A/C = high cooling/heating bills
High ceilings + swamp cooler = low cooling / high heating bills
Low ceiling + swamp cooler = low cooling / heating bills
Paint the roof white
Drapes/blinds can save you a bundle on heating/cooling
If your bank is willing, factor the install costs of solar hot water system into the mortgage, check out the tax credit and electric rebate (if all electric house).

 

[rh71]

electric: $65/mo.
water: $10/mo. (avg'd to figure in lawn watering in the summer)
oil: $90/mo. (we only get fill-ups in the winter so that's the avg. over 12 months)
garbage: part of town taxes

 

[Toasthead]

Originally posted by: SearchMaster
Sheesh.

My electric bill in the summer runs almost $400/mo. About $200/mo the rest of the year. No gas, water is ~$12. But it's all VERY dependent on where you live. So asking us is pointless; ask people in the area you'll be living.

you either grow pot or live in a walk in fridge