Living in an expensive neighborhood is unexpectedly expensive

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Inflation has caused increased costs. Your old house cleaners may have maintained your original quote with modest increases, but charge new customers more.

Additionally, consider that people in expensive neighborhoods may have homes that require more work. Cooktops and counters that need special cleaners. More Knick knacks to dust. Nicer things and more things that require more time and care to move or clean.

I appreciate the contribution but unless you’ve done this kind of move you don’t realize that it truly is a location tax. Inflation doesn’t change that much in one month.

[Anonymous]

We've seen the same with big markups in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

To be clear for those citing COVID or inflation, this sort of thing happened WELL before both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Inflation has caused increased costs. Your old house cleaners may have maintained your original quote with modest increases, but charge new customers more.

Additionally, consider that people in expensive neighborhoods may have homes that require more work. Cooktops and counters that need special cleaners. More Knick knacks to dust. Nicer things and more things that require more time and care to move or clean.

I appreciate the contribution but unless you’ve done this kind of move you don’t realize that it truly is a location tax. Inflation doesn’t change that much in one month.

DP here and yes, I agree with you. It's a location tax. I live in Arlington. We pay much more for goods and services.

[Anonymous]

Sounds a bit like “wedding tax” - where everything is more expensive if you say it’s for a wedding, than say a retirement or birthday party.

Although I do wonder if it’s in part because, like stereotypical brides, customers in the more expensive zip codes tend to be more exacting/difficult/PITA to work for.

[Anonymous]

Yes, this is a thing. Of course they are going to change what the market will bear. Plus, the workers do not live in your neighborhood. They have to drive further, and deal with UMC people who have a lot less respect for them than the working class people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds a bit like “wedding tax” - where everything is more expensive if you say it’s for a wedding, than say a retirement or birthday party.

Although I do wonder if it’s in part because, like stereotypical brides, customers in the more expensive zip codes tend to be more exacting/difficult/PITA to work for.

I think this. I know that I'm a PITA and if I'm paying for some work to be done, I want it done right. I would not stand for crooked accessories. I want it perfect. That takes more time and therefore costs more. Plus, they can stick it to the man a bit by charging more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My plumber calls it the Georgetown tax and assures me it's a real thing / not your imagination

(I don't live in Georgetown)

My plumber charges 20% more to go to Georgetown because getting there and parking is such a pain.

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised that this is unexpected to you OP. Do you think if you drove a ford then changed to a mercedes you would be shocked at how much more expensive an oil change is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems everyone charges more. The plumber, electrician, housecleaners, everyone is charging us significantly more than when we lived 15 minutes from here, but in a less expensive zip code. I get needing to make money, but don't be ridiculous.

I'm trying to find a new housecleaner and quotes I'm getting are easily 2x what we paid in our previous neighborhood, and for a smaller house.

We have lived in Bethesda for 20+ years, and everything here is more expensive because of the zip code, it has nothing to do with covid. I have friends who live in 20854 / Potomac. Whenever they need a contractor, they say they live in Rockville for the same reason, there's an upcharge for Potomac

1000% This.
I live in Potomac and my friend lives in Silver Spring. I called a plumber to replace a bathroom faucet, I was shocked with the price they quoted. The next day I asked my friend to call the same plumber for the same service and the quoted price was lower.

They charged you a higher price because they correctly picked up that you would be a pain-in-the-@ss customer who would create extra work for them by doing things like asking for phony quotes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Inflation has caused increased costs. Your old house cleaners may have maintained your original quote with modest increases, but charge new customers more.

Additionally, consider that people in expensive neighborhoods may have homes that require more work. Cooktops and counters that need special cleaners. More Knick knacks to dust. Nicer things and more things that require more time and care to move or clean.

This has been going on long before inflation and Covid. Stop making excuses. People charge more in expensive areas because it’s human nature.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems everyone charges more. The plumber, electrician, housecleaners, everyone is charging us significantly more than when we lived 15 minutes from here, but in a less expensive zip code. I get needing to make money, but don't be ridiculous.

I'm trying to find a new housecleaner and quotes I'm getting are easily 2x what we paid in our previous neighborhood, and for a smaller house.

We have lived in Bethesda for 20+ years, and everything here is more expensive because of the zip code, it has nothing to do with covid. I have friends who live in 20854 / Potomac. Whenever they need a contractor, they say they live in Rockville for the same reason, there's an upcharge for Potomac

1000% This.
I live in Potomac and my friend lives in Silver Spring. I called a plumber to replace a bathroom faucet, I was shocked with the price they quoted. The next day I asked my friend to call the same plumber for the same service and the quoted price was lower.

They charged you a higher price because they correctly picked up that you would be a pain-in-the-@ss customer who would create extra work for them by doing things like asking for phony quotes.

Such a dumb response. Why so defensive?

[Anonymous]

I was dumbfounded by the difference in cost for the same services (particularly labor type services like household maintenance) when I briefly lived in a rural area. If you can manage it, high income in a LCOL area is absolutely the road to easy street.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This has nothing to do with COVID.

You’re absolutely correct. I live in Manassas and I get vastly lower prices than when I lived closer in.

Location tax exists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems everyone charges more. The plumber, electrician, housecleaners, everyone is charging us significantly more than when we lived 15 minutes from here, but in a less expensive zip code. I get needing to make money, but don't be ridiculous.

I'm trying to find a new housecleaner and quotes I'm getting are easily 2x what we paid in our previous neighborhood, and for a smaller house.

We have lived in Bethesda for 20+ years, and everything here is more expensive because of the zip code, it has nothing to do with covid. I have friends who live in 20854 / Potomac. Whenever they need a contractor, they say they live in Rockville for the same reason, there's an upcharge for Potomac

1000% This.
I live in Potomac and my friend lives in Silver Spring. I called a plumber to replace a bathroom faucet, I was shocked with the price they quoted. The next day I asked my friend to call the same plumber for the same service and the quoted price was lower.

They charged you a higher price because they correctly picked up that you would be a pain-in-the-@ss customer who would create extra work for them by doing things like asking for phony quotes.

If they knew that they would decline to waste time on a phony quote.

I've often asked to pay for a quote, because I know I am trigger-shy. Vendors always refuse.