100% zip code oriented. We call it the "Great Falls Markup" here

I moved from Alexandria to McLean. I called all the same folks I used in Alexandria to do work around the house. Prices went way up for everything except mowing and cleaners.

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.

Anonymous wrote:True. Vet bills, car repair, exercise classes, services like home organizing. All of it costs more in expensive neighborhoods.

Why can’t you just go to a vet, car repair & exercise classes in a cheaper neighborhood?

True. Vet bills, car repair, exercise classes, services like home organizing. All of it costs more in expensive neighborhoods.

Anonymous wrote:Duh!

Exactly. Your vendors have the same cost of living that you have.

This is so true! I moved from a neighborhood in 2010 where my home was 750k ~5000sq ' to a neighborhood that in 2010 the average home was $2M and 5000sq'. There was about a 20% increase in everything, except cleaning because we brought out cleaner with us.

Now I think the difference is much more.... the homes are now outrageously expensive (for what they are) and inflation is nuts. My old home is probably worth barely above the 750k I sold it for more than a decade ago.

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.

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

Duh!

Oh no! Anyway.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Inflation has caused things to cost more. I live in the same neighborhood as I did precovid and everything costs more, handyman, housekeeping, etc.

This. You might be right, but please understand, costs for these kinds of house maintenance projects has absolutely skyrocketed.

I think a part of it is reduced immigration, particularly illegal immigration, which started under Trump but was maintained under Biden and, in the case of legal immigration/visas, further reduced due to the pandemic.

I live in a more blue collar neighborhood and trust that my eyes are also bulging with sticker shock.

Illegal immigration has exploded under Biden to a staggering number. Millions. By contrast it was in the thousands under Turnip. I have to concede this point to the Republicans.

COVID was a shock to the employment market. There was a boom in demand for house maintenance projects while at the same time the labor force for maintenance projects fell sharply. Some of the contractors I worked with at the time said a lot of the workers were taking advantage of the free checks the government was sending out during COVID to the unemployed to stop working and when that happened, contractors had to raise their wages to keep other workers, which triggered a spike in cost of services.

Labor costs are much higher now.

Anonymous wrote:Inflation has caused things to cost more. I live in the same neighborhood as I did precovid and everything costs more, handyman, housekeeping, etc.

This. You might be right, but please understand, costs for these kinds of house maintenance projects has absolutely skyrocketed.

I think a part of it is reduced immigration, particularly illegal immigration, which started under Trump but was maintained under Biden and, in the case of legal immigration/visas, further reduced due to the pandemic.

I live in a more blue collar neighborhood and trust that my eyes are also bulging with sticker shock.

Inflation has caused things to cost more. I live in the same neighborhood as I did precovid and everything costs more, handyman, housekeeping, etc.

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.