The new analysis from Zillow and Thumbtack identifies the additional costs home buyers can expect, including utilities, insurance, maintenance and property taxes

• Homeowners can expect a payment $14,155 a year, or $1,180 per month in hidden costs associated with owning a home.
• These annual costs can be too high $22,791 in the San Francisco metro area and as low as $9,886 In Las Vegas.
• Affordability is the biggest challenge for first-time home buyers. Zillow's affordability calculator and new monthly cost finder tool, as well as Thumbtack's personalized maintenance guides, can help buyers factor these costs into their budget.

SEATTLE And SAN FRANCISCO, June 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The daily cost of owning a home is higher than ever, according to a new analysis from Zillow® and Thumbtack. Utility bills, property taxes, insurance and essential maintenance can add up $14,155 per year for the average US homeowner. This is an addition $1,180 per month in addition to a typical mortgage payment. First-time home buyers facing affordability challenges in today's market need to understand and factor in these less obvious costs when calculating how much home they can afford.

Zillow and Thumbtack: Top 10 Metro Areas with the Highest Hidden Annual Costs of Homeownership

These costs can be surprisingly high and even higher in already expensive metropolitan areas $22,000 annually in San Francisco, new York And The angel. Of the 39 metropolitan areas analyzed, the hidden costs of homeownership are the lowest Las Vegas ($9,886); Asheville, North Carolina ($11,318); And St Louis ($11,824).

Research from Zillow and Thumbtack examined three unavoidable expenses for single-family homeowners—property taxes, home insurance, and utilities (energy, water, natural gas, and internet)—and found that they were average $7,742 overall nationwide. New Yorkers pay the highest property taxes, even more $9,000 per year while utility costs are at their highest Hartford, Connecticutaveraging $4,443 a year. The cost of homeowners insurance varies depending on home value, so homeowners in the cheapest metropolitan areas, such as Pittsburgh And Clevelandhave the added benefit of lower insurance costs.

The analysis also considered Thumbtack's 17 essential home maintenance projects, based on data from millions of home projects completed across the country. These projects have an overall average $6,413 yearly. The average maintenance costs are highest in The angel And Chicagoin total $8,639 And $7,722 respectively. Homeowners are now in Las Vegas can expect to pay fairly $3,467 per year to maintain their homes.

“Just like you would visit a mechanic regularly to keep your car in good condition and avoid high bills, your home also needs the same routine maintenance to ensure everything is running smoothly,” he said David Steckel, Thumbtack's home expert. “Staying on top of your home's annual maintenance will not only increase your home's value, but also avoid emergency repairs that can break the homeowner's budget.”

Nearly half of all home buyers (45%) are first-time buyers, and they may be surprised by these costs and not take them into account when budgeting for a home. When buyers start in the Home Loans tab on the Zillow homepage, they can use an affordability calculator to figure out how much they can afford, then connect with a loan officer to not only find out what mortgage they qualify for , but also what they would like to pay. Given these additional costs. With that budget, buyers can then use a new app filter on Zillow to purchase homes based on monthly cost instead of purchase price.

“Understanding all the costs that come with homeownership can impact not only a buyer's budget, but also the type of home they purchase,” said Zillow home trends expert Amanda Pendleton. “While a large backyard or larger home can be attractive, it is important to consider how much it might cost to maintain these spaces. Buyers may want to consider affordable alternatives to single-family homes or spend more up front on a new construction home that might require less maintenance in the short term.”

Once buyers close the deal, Thumbtack is the point of contact to help you care for your new home. By entering their home's location and features on Thumbtack, homeowners can receive personalized guidance on what projects to complete, when, and who to hire to do the work. This will help homeowners create prioritized maintenance plans that are within their budget and cover everything from move-in home cleaning to tree trimming and roof maintenance.

methodology

In this analysis, property taxes were calculated using the average effective tax rate in each metropolitan area multiplied by the area's average home value, as measured by the Zillow Home Value Index.

In estimating insurance costs, this analysis assumed that homeowners pay 0.5% of their home's value each year, which was calculated as 0.005 multiplied by the area's average home value as measured by the Zillow Home Value Index.

Utility costs were calculated using the unweighted average of all states, excluding streaming and phone bill costs, as reported by Forbes.

Annual home maintenance costs are made up of tack categories that are considered essential annual home maintenance tasks: appliance maintenance, carpet cleaning, central air conditioning maintenance, patio staining and sealing, duct and vent cleaning, fireplace and chimney cleaning, lawn with comprehensive Service Gutter care, cleaning and maintenance, heating system maintenance, house cleaning, pressure washing, roof maintenance, sprinkler and irrigation system maintenance, tile and grout cleaning, tree trimming and removal, water heater maintenance and window cleaning.

Pricing data is based on projects requested on Thumbtack reported directly by the independent service professional or individual customer. Cost is an unweighted index of all annual home maintenance projects and is calculated quarterly using a moving average.

About Zillow Group

Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z) (NASDAQ: ZG) is reimagining real estate to make it easier to enter the next chapter of life. As the most visited real estate website in The United StatesZillow® and its partners provide customers with an on-demand experience to sell, buy, rent or finance with transparency and ease.

Zillow Group's affiliates, brands and subsidiaries include Zillow®; Zillow Premier Agent®; Zillow Home Loans; Zillow Closing Services; Trulia®; Out East®; StreetEasy®; HotPads®; and ShowingTime+℠, which houses ShowingTime®, Bridge Interactive® and dotloop®, as well as interactive floor plans. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).

About thumbtack

Thumbtack is a technology leader developing the modern home management platform. With the Thumbtack app, homeowners can manage their homes effortlessly – knowing with confidence what to do, when to do it, and who to hire. Bring them 600 billion dollars Thumbtack is an online platform for the home services industry, empowering millions of homeowners to repair, maintain and improve their most valuable assets. Hundreds of thousands of local service professionals, from painters and plumbers to photographers and electricians, use the Thumbtack platform every year to grow their businesses.

SOURCE Zillow Group, Inc.

The post Hidden prices of homeownership can add as much as practically $15,000 yearly appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

The best time to get a sense of the costs involved in home ownership is before you begin to look for one, especially since the “hidden costs” of owning a home can top $14,000 a year for the average U.S. homeowner and exceed $22,000 in pricey metros such as San Francisco and New York.

The sum — which pencils out to $1,180 a month for the average homeowner — includes utility bills, homeowners insurance and maintenance costs, according to an analysis by Zillow and Thumbtack, a home management platform that enables people to fix, maintain and improve their homes.

While most prospective buyers are familiar with big ticket items such as mortgage payments and property taxes, smaller costs add to the cost of owning a home. Taking them into account before you begin shopping can help prevent unpleasant surprises that strain or drain your finances.

What are the costs of owning a home?

“Understanding all the costs that come with homeownership can not only impact a buyer’s budget, but the type of home they shop for, too,” said Zillow® home trends expert Amanda Pendleton. “While a big backyard or a larger home may be appealing, it’s important to consider how much maintaining those spaces could cost. Buyers may want to consider affordable alternatives to single-family homes, or spend more upfront on a new-construction home that could need less maintenance in the near term.”

The total costs of home ownership are made up of purchase costs, ongoing fixed costs and maintenance expenses. The most common ongoing expenses include:

• Mortgage payments (principal and interest)
• Property taxes
• Insurance
• HOA dues (if applicable)
• Utilities
• Maintenance

Costs of homeownership by location

Of the top 39 metro areas analyzed, the locations with the highest hidden costs of ownership costs are San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles, which all came in at more than $22,000 annually. 

Locations with some of the least expensive annual hidden homeownership costs are Las Vegas ($9,886); Asheville, North Carolina ($11,318); and St. Louis ($11,824).

Home details that affect your homeownership costs

A few additional factors besides your real estate market can make your homeownership experience less or more expensive than the average, including: 

• Age of the home
• Home’s condition based on inspection and disclosures
• Location (affects both contractor costs and climate-specific maintenance)
• Materials used for build and subsequent renovations or repairs
• Home warranty

Ongoing fixed costs of owning a house

Once you buy a home and move in, you’ll start paying a set of ongoing fixed costs for as long as you own the home.

Monthly mortgage payments (principal & interest)

If you put 10% down on a typical U.S. home, valued at about $350,000, and financed the rest with a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage at 7%, here’s what the cost of borrowing would look like:

• Principal and interest: $2,096
• Private mortgage insurance: $155 (note that for many loans, you’ll only have to pay PMI until your equity in the home reaches 20%)
• Total monthly mortgage payment: $2,251

Property taxes

How much you’ll pay in property taxes depends on the tax rates where your home is located and how much your house is worth. Your property taxes are paid in a lump sum annually or biannually, either out of pocket or, more commonly, through your mortgage escrow account. 

Nationally, homeowners pay an average of $2,827 in property taxes annually. Metro New Yorkers pay the highest property taxes out of the 40 studied, averaging $9,145 a year. Pittsburgh metro homeowners average the lowest property taxes at $1,055 annually.

Homeowners’ insurance

Homeowners’ insurance generally covers repairs or replacement of your home and its contents if they are damaged by certain hazards such as fires or other natural disasters and is almost always required by your lender.

The cost of homeowners’ insurance will vary depending on your location, the type of coverage you’re buying and any discounts you might qualify for, and your insurer.

Broadly speaking, homeowners pay about 0.5% of their home’s value every year for insurance. So for the typical home, valued at about $350,000, you’d pay about $146 a month. The cost is likely to be higher in areas prone to hazards, and lower in the most affordable metros, such as Pittsburgh ($994 annually) and Cleveland ($1,087 a year).

Coverage for rebuilding or repairs after an earthquake or flood is usually not included in standard homeowners’ policies, so you may want to — or in the case of flood insurance, have to — buy a separate policy.

If you’re buying with a mortgage, the lender will typically roll the cost of insurance into the monthly mortgage payment and pay the premiums on your behalf.

Homeowner association (HOA) fees

If your home is part of a homeowner’s association, you’ll be responsible for paying monthly, quarterly or yearly dues. HOAs are more common in condominium, townhome or planned communities. 

Homeowner associations or HOAs are non-profit entities that can establish and enforce rules, provide basic services such as water and tend to the maintenance and repair of community amenities such as pools, roads and landscaping.

Commonly found in condominium, townhome and planned single-family home communities, HOAs are run by a board of homeowners and typically charge dues that you will be required to pay monthly or annually. Dues vary widely, and can change depending on the community needs. For instance, an association that has neglected maintenance or wants to undertake development of something such as a new park can raise dues or levy special assessments. 

Maintenance expenses of owning a home

“Just like you would visit a mechanic for regular tune-ups to help keep your car in good condition and avoid big bills, your home needs the same routine maintenance to ensure that everything is running smoothly,” said David Steckel, Thumbtack’s home expert. “Staying on top of annual home maintenance will not only increase the value of your home, but will also help prevent emergency repairs that can wreck a homeowner’s budget.”    

Maintenance costs are somewhat flexible because they may not impact every homeowner in the same way. For example, you could have to pay for lawn maintenance out of pocket or through your HOA or you may not have a yard to maintain. Although costs will vary, it’s helpful to get a feel for maintenance expenses. 

Maintenance and upkeep

Based on data from millions of home projects completed across the country, home maintenance and upkeep runs about $6,413 annually, according to Thumbtack. The list of projects on which the list is based is a long one that may or may not apply to your circumstances: 

• appliance maintenance 
• carpet cleaning 
• central air conditioning maintenance 
• deck staining and sealing 
• duct and vent cleaning 
• fireplace and chimney cleaning 
• full-service lawn care 
• gutter cleaning and maintenance 
• heating system maintenance 
• house cleaning 
• pressure washing 
• roof maintenance 
• sprinkler and irrigation system maintenance 
• tile and grout cleaning 
• tree trimming and removal 
• water heater maintenance
• window cleaning

The average cost of upkeep is highest in Los Angeles and Chicago, totaling $8,639 and $7,722 respectively. Meanwhile, homeowners in Pittsburg pay an average of $3,373 and those in Cleveland pay $3,747 a year to maintain their homes. 

Utilities

If you’re a first-time buyer, the cost of utilities could surprise you, especially if your previous rental home included utilities. Homeowners in Hartford, Connecticut, pay the highest utility bills, averaging $4,443 annually, according to the Zillow/Thumbtack research.

For homeowners in urban areas, utilities could include: 

• water and sewer
• garbage pickup 
• electric 
• natural gas 
• cable and internet

Rural utility costs could include: 

• water 
• septic repair and maintenance 
• garbage pickup 
• electric 
• propane 
• wood or wood pellets for heat 
• internet

Larger homes are likely to cost more to heat and cool, and older homes may be less energy efficient unless they’ve had new windows installed and/or the insulation upgraded.

Home repairs and cosmetic updates

Depending on the age and condition of the home, you’re likely to run into things you want to update or have to fix. 

Research and survey data from Zillow and home services website Thumbtack in 2021 shows that 65% of active shoppers are not looking for a fixer-upper. Yet the research found that the typical for-sale home could need nearly $30,000 worth of work, and that new homeowners should expect to spend $26,900 to make their new home move-in ready.

That’s substantially more than the $10,000 to $15,000 the average millennial surveyed by Thumbtack expects to pay for repairs and updates.

The most expensive project — evaluating, repairing or replacing heating and air conditioning systems — clocked in at a national average of $3,615.

New appliances

Everything in a home has a lifespan, and appliances are no exception. 

If you’re buying a newly built home, the appliances should be new and under warranty. If you’re buying a resale home, the need to replace or repair an appliance can vary widely depending on the age and condition of the appliances.

At a minimum, most appliances will run you several hundreds of dollars for the most basic models. Add bells and whistles, and you could be looking at thousands of dollars to replace a refrigerator. You also could have to pay for installation, a pricey proposition if it involves changes to electrical wiring or plumbing.

How to prepare for hidden costs

A good place to start is to determine how much you intend to put down on the purchase, and then see how much you’re prepared to spend on closing costs and improvements. 

A good rule of thumb is to have 1-4% of the home cost reserved for hidden costs.  

Complete a home inspection

Look to your home inspection for a preview of what to expect. The best way to get a handle on possible costs for repairs and upgrades is to have a home inspected before you make an offer to buy it.

A good inspector can assess electrical systems and plumbing, structural soundness and the condition of the roof — and some inspectors can offer price estimates for various repairs. Even seemingly small repairs add up, so knowing what your house may need in advance can help set expectations for your wallet. 

Once you have a handle on what repairs are needed, you can factor them into the cost of the house to determine the true cost of owning it, and compare the price to other homes that might not need as much work.

Set up an emergency fund

Home maintenance costs can be unpredictable. It’s smart to set aside 1-2% of your home’s value each year into an emergency fund, so that when those big-ticket repairs need fixing, you’ll already have the money set aside. 

Make a plan for improvements

Plan for updates. Think about what things would have to be done immediately, what could wait, and — if you’re handy, what you might be able to do yourself. Be realistic. Some home projects, such as painting the outside or remodeling the kitchen, can take a long time when you’re working and/or tending to your family.

Forecast repairs and replacements

Although it’s impossible to pinpoint exactly when something in your home is going to fail or need replacing, you can use the expected lifespan to prepare, both financially and mentally, for upcoming projects. If you’re buying an existing home, your home inspector will usually estimate the age of the appliances at the time of your purchase. Here are common lifespans, according to the National Association of Homebuilders and Consumer Reports: 

• Roof: 20-30 years, or 50+ years for slate or copper roofs
• Furnace: 18 years for a gas furnace, 15 years for electric
• Air conditioner: 15 years
• Oven/range: 15 years
• Refrigerator: 13 years
• Freezer: 11 years
• Washer/dryer: 10-13 years
• Dishwasher: 9 years
• Flooring: 10-100 years, depending on the material

Assess your appliances

Get to know your appliances. Ask your inspector to test the appliances during the home inspection, and ask your real estate agent to get the age of the appliances from the seller, along with typical cost of utilities in the summer and winter months.

Consider a home warranty

Research home warranties. A home warranty — which is a short-term service contract that helps home buyers cover the costs of repairing or replacing certain mechanical systems and applies during the first year of ownership, can take away some of the financial uncertainty. Depending on the level of coverage, home warranties typically cost between $300 and $800, and can usually be paid monthly or in a lump sum. You can ask the seller to pay for one or buy one yourself. 

Ask about HOA maintenance practices

Since HOA dues are fixed for the year, they should be easy enough to figure into the budget. To get a sense of how stable those costs are likely to be long term, ask for a copy of the HOA’s most recent three annual financial reports to see whether it is spending money on routine maintenance. HOAs that kick the can down the road can end up with expensive projects that require special assessments or hefty dues hikes.

Add up costs for maintenance

If you’re contemplating a home with a yard, for example, do a cold-eyed assessment of how much time and money you need and want to spend maintaining it. If you prefer to hire someone to do it, put that in your budget.

Remember: Your list doesn’t have to be exhaustive, but it should get you close to what you’re prepared to spend. Having that monthly cost in mind, can help you determine whether the home you want to buy fits your budget.

The post The True Prices of Proudly owning a Residence Can High $14K Yearly appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

The new analysis from Zillow and Thumbtack identifies the additional costs home buyers can expect, including utilities, insurance, maintenance and property taxes

• Homeowners can expect a payment $14,155 a year, or $1,180 per month in hidden costs associated with owning a home.
• These annual costs can be too high $22,791 in the San Francisco metro area and as low as $9,886 In Las Vegas.
• Affordability is the biggest challenge for first-time home buyers. Zillow's affordability calculator and new monthly cost finder tool, as well as Thumbtack's personalized maintenance guides, can help buyers factor these costs into their budget.

SEATTLE And SAN FRANCISCO, June 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The daily cost of owning a home is higher than ever, according to a new analysis from Zillow® and Thumbtack. Utility bills, property taxes, insurance and essential maintenance can add up $14,155 per year for the average US homeowner. This is an addition $1,180 per month in addition to a typical mortgage payment. First-time home buyers facing affordability challenges in today's market need to understand and factor in these less obvious expenses when calculating how much home they can afford.

These costs can be surprisingly high and even higher in already expensive metropolitan areas $22,000 annually in San Francisco, new York And The angel. Of the 39 metropolitan areas analyzed, the hidden costs of homeownership are the lowest Las Vegas ($9,886); Asheville, North Carolina ($11,318); And St Louis ($11,824).

Research from Zillow and Thumbtack examined three unavoidable expenses for single-family homeowners—property taxes, home insurance, and utilities (energy, water, natural gas, and internet)—and found that they were average $7,742 overall nationwide. New Yorkers pay the highest property taxes, even more $9,000 per year while utility costs are at their highest Hartford, Connecticutaveraging $4,443 a year. The cost of homeowners insurance varies depending on home value, so homeowners in the cheapest metropolitan areas, such as Pittsburgh And Clevelandhave the added benefit of lower insurance costs.

The analysis also considered Thumbtack's 17 essential home maintenance projects, based on data from millions of home projects completed across the country. These projects have an overall average $6,413 yearly. The average maintenance costs are highest in The angel And Chicagoin total $8,639 And $7,722 respectively. Homeowners are now in Las Vegas can expect to pay fairly $3,467 per year to maintain their homes.

“Just like you would visit a mechanic regularly to keep your car in good condition and avoid high bills, your home also needs the same routine maintenance to ensure everything is running smoothly,” he said David Steckel, Thumbtack's home expert. “Staying on top of your home's annual maintenance will not only increase your home's value, but also avoid emergency repairs that can break the homeowner's budget.”

Nearly half of all home buyers (45%) are first-time buyers, and they may be surprised by these costs and not take them into account when budgeting for a home. When buyers start in the Home Loans tab on the Zillow homepage, they can use an affordability calculator to figure out how much they can afford, then connect with a loan officer to not only find out what mortgage they qualify for , but also what they would like to pay. Given these additional costs. With that budget, buyers can then use a new app filter on Zillow to purchase homes based on monthly cost instead of purchase price.

“Understanding all the costs that come with homeownership can impact not only a buyer's budget, but also the type of home they purchase,” said Zillow home trends expert Amanda Pendleton. “While a large backyard or larger home can be attractive, it is important to consider how much it might cost to maintain these spaces. Buyers may want to consider affordable alternatives to single-family homes or spend more up front on a new construction home that might require less maintenance in the short term.”

Once buyers close the deal, Thumbtack is the point of contact to help you care for your new home. By entering their home's location and features on Thumbtack, homeowners can receive personalized guidance on which projects to complete, when, and who to hire to complete the work. This will help homeowners create prioritized maintenance plans that are within their budget and cover everything from move-in home cleaning to tree trimming and roof maintenance.

methodology

In this analysis, property taxes were calculated using the average effective tax rate in each metropolitan area multiplied by the area's average home value, as measured by the Zillow Home Value Index.

In estimating insurance costs, this analysis assumed that homeowners pay 0.5% of their home's value each year, which was calculated as 0.005 multiplied by the area's average home value as measured by the Zillow Home Value Index.

Utility costs were calculated using the unweighted average of all states, excluding streaming and phone bill costs, as reported by Forbes.

Annual home maintenance costs are made up of tack categories that are considered essential annual home maintenance tasks: appliance maintenance, carpet cleaning, central air conditioning maintenance, patio staining and sealing, duct and vent cleaning, fireplace and chimney cleaning, lawn with comprehensive Service Gutter care, cleaning and maintenance, heating system maintenance, house cleaning, pressure washing, roof maintenance, sprinkler and irrigation system maintenance, tile and grout cleaning, tree trimming and removal, water heater maintenance and window cleaning.

Pricing data is based on projects requested on Thumbtack reported directly by the independent service professional or individual customer. Cost is an unweighted index of all annual home maintenance projects and is calculated quarterly using a moving average.

About Zillow Group

Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z) (NASDAQ: ZG) is reimagining real estate to make it easier to enter the next chapter of life. As the most visited real estate website in The United StatesZillow® and its affiliates provide customers with a transparent and easy, on-demand experience for selling, buying, renting or financing.

Zillow Group's affiliates, brands and subsidiaries include Zillow®; Zillow Premier Agent®; Zillow Home Loans; Zillow Closing Services; Trulia®; Out East®; StreetEasy®; HotPads®; and ShowingTime+℠, which houses ShowingTime®, Bridge Interactive® and dotloop®, as well as interactive floor plans. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).

About thumbtack

Thumbtack is a technology leader developing the modern home management platform. With the Thumbtack app, homeowners can manage their homes effortlessly – knowing with confidence what to do, when to do it, and who to hire. Bring them 600 billion dollars Thumbtack is an online platform for the home services industry, empowering millions of homeowners to repair, maintain and improve their most valuable assets. Hundreds of thousands of local service professionals, from painters and plumbers to photographers and electricians, use the Thumbtack platform each year to grow their businesses.

SOURCE Zillow Group, Inc.

For more information: Amanda Pendleton, Zillow, press@zillow.com; or Gina Balistreri, Thumbtack, press@thumbtack.com

The post Hidden prices of homeownership can add as much as almost $15,000 yearly appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

This post is sponsored and contributed by Thumbtack, a Patch Brand Partner.

While it might seem awfully tempting to try to fix that wobbly table or rattling AC unit on your own, most home repairs are best left to the professionals. Hiring a handyman can save you time and stress — and Thumbtack, a convenient home services app used by millions, makes it easier than ever to find a handyman in the Foster City area.

Each pro on Thumbtack has their own profile with price information, allowing you to find a handyman who works within your budget. The average cost to hire a handyman in the greater San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA region is $68 per hour, according to data obtained by Thumbtack.

Eager to get started on those home repairs? Here are some professional handymen in the Foster City area.

Find out what’s happening in Foster Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Build serrano

• Customer review: “I am very pleased with his work and will hire him again if I ever need a handyman! 5 stars”
• Check availability

EV general home services

• Customer review: “Very nice, very hard worker. Very detailed and most importantly – she did an amazing job. The house is CLEAN.”
• Check availability

Alex The Handyman: Wall and Doors Repair, TV Mount

• Customer review: “Strongly, I would like to recommend Alex The Handyman to other friends.”
• Check availability

Once you’ve identified those home repairs, Thumbtack can connect you to pros in the Foster City area to complete just about any home task. You can hire a house cleaner, electrician, plumber, landscaper and pretty much any other professional you can think of to help you tackle that to-do list. Thumbtack pros even have reviews, so you know exactly what other Foster City community members thought of their services.

Need help with a home repair or task in the Foster City area? Let the pros at Thumbtack help you get the job done!

Pricing data is based on projects requested on Thumbtack in the past 24 months as reported directly by the independent service professional or individual consumer.

Find out what’s happening in Foster Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This post is sponsored and contributed by Thumbtack, a Patch Brand Partner.

Need A Repair? Here’s How Much A Handyman Costs In The Foster City Area

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The post Want A Restore? This is How A lot A Handyman Prices In The Foster Metropolis Space appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

What takes four years to make and costs more than $20,000? A trash can in San Francisco.

That costly, boxy bin is among six trash cans hitting San Francisco’s streets this summer in the city’s long saga in search of the perfect can. Overflowing trash cans are a common sight in the Northern California city, along with piles of used clothes, shoes, furniture, and other items strewn about on sometimes-impassable sidewalks.

City officials hired a Bay Area industrial firm to custom-design the pricey trash can along with two other prototypes that cost taxpayers $19,000 and $11,000 each. This summer, residents have the opportunity to evaluate them along with three off-the-shelf options added to the pilot program after officials faced criticism.

Last month, the city deployed 15 custom-made trash cans and 11 off-the-shelf trash cans — each of those costing from $630 to $2,800 — with QR codes affixed to them asking residents to fill out a survey. City officials said they intend to pay no more than $3,000 per can.

San Francisco began its search for the perfect trash can in 2018 when officials decided it was time to replace the more than 3,000 public bins that have been on the streets for almost 20 years.

Officials say the current bins have too big a hole that allows for easy rummaging. The bins also have hinges that need constant repair and locks that are easy to breach. Some people also topple them over, cover them in graffiti, or set them on fire.

The city is so serious about the endeavor it has created interactive maps so residents can track and test the different designs, which include the Soft Square, the priciest prototype at $20,900. The boxy stainless steel receptacle has openings for trash and for can and bottle recycling and includes a foot pedal. The Slim Silhouette, at $18,800 per prototype, is made of stainless steel bars that would give graffiti artists less space to tag.

If one of the custom-designed bins is chosen, the cost to mass produce it will be $2,000 to $3,000 per piece, said Beth Rubenstein, a spokeswoman for San Francisco’s Department of Public Works.

“We live in a beautiful city, and we want (the trash can) to be functional and cost-effective, but it needs to be beautiful,” she said.

But the good looks of the shiny new trash cans have not protected them from vandalism and disrespect. Three weeks after being unveiled, several have already been tagged with orange and white graffiti. Others already show the drip stains of inconsiderate coffee drinkers or have attracted dumping, with people leaving dilapidated bathroom cabinets and plastic bags full of empty wine bottles next to them.

Trash on San Francisco city streets has been an issue for decades. In 2007, then-Mayor Gavin Newsom eliminated about 1,500 of the city’s 4,500 trash cans because he said they were not helping keep streets clean and were becoming magnets for more trash. Officials couldn’t say how many receptacles are currently on the curb, but the city plans to replace at least 3,000.

“A trash can is one of the most basic functions of city governance and if the city can’t do something as simple as this, how can they solve the bigger issues of homelessness and safety and poverty?” asked Matt Haney, a former supervisor who lives in the Tenderloin neighborhood and now represents the area in the California Assembly.

New trash cans will be the latest addition to the city’s arsenal against its dirty streets. In 2014, San Francisco launched its “Pit Stop” program in the Tenderloin neighborhood, the epicenter of drug dealing and homelessness in the city, setting up portable public toilets. In 2018, the city created a six-person “poop patrol” team amid demand to power wash sidewalks.

Haney said that as a supervisor he reluctantly agreed last year to approve the pilot program despite the high prices to avoid delays.

“I think most people, including me, would say just replace the damn cans with cans that we know work in other cities, just do it,” he said.

Haney said the “whole trash can saga has this stench of corruption,” referring to disgraced former Department of Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru, who pleaded guilty in January to federal wire fraud charges. Nuru awarded the contract to maintain San Francisco’s trash cans to a company owned by a relative of a developer who has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and is cooperating with federal authorities in the case against Nuru.

On top of the corruption, the city has long been the butt of jokes for how long it takes to complete public works projects of all kinds.

A bus rapid transit system along Van Ness Avenue, one of the city’s main arteries, finally opened this year after 27 years of construction. A new subway line connecting Chinatown with other areas of the city that started construction in 2010 is four years behind schedule. In 2017, the city completed the Transbay Transit Center only a year late, but the $2 billion terminal abruptly shut down six weeks later after crews discovered two cracked steel girders.

Ultimately, what trash can the city gets will depend on feedback from sanitation employees, and the surveys completed by the end of September, Rubenstein said. The new cans are not expected on the streets until the end of 2023.

Diane Torkelson, who often picks up trash in her Inner Richmond neighborhood with other volunteers, recently trekked 5 miles (8 kilometers) with a dozen other civic-minded San Franciscans to examine three of the cans.

The two prototypes were already full when the group arrived to check them out, she said.

“If the trash can is full, it’s of no use, no matter how well it was designed,” she said.

The post What Takes Years and Prices $20K? A San Francisco Trash Can – GV Wire appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

This post is sponsored and contributed by Thumbtack, a Patch Brand Partner.

While it might seem awfully tempting to try to fix that wobbly table or rattling AC unit on your own, most home repairs are best left to the professionals. Hiring a handyman can save you time and stress — and Thumbtack, a convenient home services app used by millions, makes it easier than ever to find a handyman in the Livermore area.

Each pro on Thumbtack has their own profile with price information, allowing you to find a handyman who works within your budget. The average cost to hire a handyman in the greater San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA region is $68 per hour, according to data obtained by Thumbtack.

Eager to get started on those home repairs? Here are some professional handymen in the Livermore area.

Find out what’s happening in Livermorewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Build serrano

• Customer review: “I am very pleased with his work and will hire him again if I ever need a handyman! 5 stars”
• Check availability

Mario Lopez Jr

• Customer review: “Very organized, good work quality and very clean! Highly recommended!”
• Check availability

Phillip’s Home Solutions LLC

• Customer review: “brandon was great ! worker hard, solved our issues, professional, showed up when he said he would, what to say ? you will be happy to have him there.”
• Check availability

Once you’ve identified those home repairs, Thumbtack can connect you to pros in the Livermore area to complete just about any home task. You can hire a house cleaner, electrician, plumber, landscaper and pretty much any other professional you can think of to help you tackle that to-do list. Thumbtack pros even have reviews, so you know exactly what other Livermore community members thought of their services.

Need help with a home repair or task in the Livermore area? Let the pros at Thumbtack help you get the job done!

Pricing data is based on projects requested on Thumbtack in the past 24 months as reported directly by the independent service professional or individual consumer.

Find out what’s happening in Livermorewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This post is sponsored and contributed by Thumbtack, a Patch Brand Partner.

Need A Repair? Here’s How Much A Handyman Costs In The Livermore Area

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The post Want A Restore? This is How A lot A Handyman Prices In The Livermore Space appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

This post is sponsored and contributed by Thumbtack, a Patch Brand Partner.

While it might seem awfully tempting to try to fix that wobbly table or rattling AC unit on your own, most home repairs are best left to the professionals. Hiring a handyman can save you time and stress — and Thumbtack, a convenient home services app used by millions, makes it easier than ever to find a handyman in the Albany area.

Each pro on Thumbtack has their own profile with price information, allowing you to find a handyman who works within your budget. The average cost to hire a handyman in the greater San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA region is $68 per hour, according to data obtained by Thumbtack.

Eager to get started on those home repairs? Here are some professional handymen in the Albany area.

Find out what’s happening in Albanywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Build serrano

• Customer review: “I am very pleased with his work and will hire him again if I ever need a handyman! 5 stars”
• Check availability

Mario Lopez Jr

• Customer review: “Very organized, good work quality and very clean! Highly recommended!”
• Check availability

Carlos Garces

• Customer review: “Carlos was able to finished up a job that another handyman abandoned. Very flexible and creative in completing the task at hand.”
• Check availability

Once you’ve identified those home repairs, Thumbtack can connect you to pros in the Albany area to complete just about any home task. You can hire a house cleaner, electrician, plumber, landscaper and pretty much any other professional you can think of to help you tackle that to-do list. Thumbtack pros even have reviews, so you know exactly what other Albany community members thought of their services.

Need help with a home repair or task in the Albany area? Let the pros at Thumbtack help you get the job done!

Pricing data is based on projects requested on Thumbtack in the past 24 months as reported directly by the independent service professional or individual consumer.

Find out what’s happening in Albanywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This post is sponsored and contributed by Thumbtack, a Patch Brand Partner.

Need A Repair? Here’s How Much A Handyman Costs In The Albany Area

The rules of replying:

• Be respectful. This is a space for friendly local discussions. No racist, discriminatory, vulgar or threatening language will be tolerated.
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The post Want A Restore? Here is How A lot A Handyman Prices In The Albany Space appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

This post is sponsored and contributed by Thumbtack, a Patch Brand Partner.

While it might seem awfully tempting to try to fix that wobbly table or rattling AC unit on your own, most home repairs are best left to the professionals. Hiring a handyman can save you time and stress — and Thumbtack, a convenient home services app used by millions, makes it easier than ever to find a handyman in the San Leandro area.

Each pro on Thumbtack has their own profile with price information, allowing you to find a handyman who works within your budget. The average cost to hire a handyman in the greater San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA region is $68 per hour, according to data obtained by Thumbtack.

Eager to get started on those home repairs? Here are some professional handymen in the San Leandro area.

Find out what’s happening in San Leandrowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Build serrano

• Customer review: “I am very pleased with his work and will hire him again if I ever need a handyman! 5 stars”
• Check availability

Mario Lopez Jr

• Customer review: “Very organized, good work quality and very clean! Highly recommended!”
• Check availability

EV general home services

• Customer review: “Very nice, very hard worker. Very detailed and most importantly – she did an amazing job. The house is CLEAN.”
• Check availability

Once you’ve identified those home repairs, Thumbtack can connect you to pros in the San Leandro area to complete just about any home task. You can hire a house cleaner, electrician, plumber, landscaper and pretty much any other professional you can think of to help you tackle that to-do list. Thumbtack pros even have reviews, so you know exactly what other San Leandro community members thought of their services.

Need help with a home repair or task in the San Leandro area? Let the pros at Thumbtack help you get the job done!

Pricing data is based on projects requested on Thumbtack in the past 24 months as reported directly by the independent service professional or individual consumer.

Find out what’s happening in San Leandrowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This post is sponsored and contributed by Thumbtack, a Patch Brand Partner.

Need A Repair? Here’s How Much A Handyman Costs In The San Leandro Area

The rules of replying:

• Be respectful. This is a space for friendly local discussions. No racist, discriminatory, vulgar or threatening language will be tolerated.
• Be transparent. Use your real name, and back up your claims.
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• Review the Patch Community Guidelines.

Reply to this articleReply

The post Want A Restore? This is How A lot A Handyman Prices In The San Leandro Space appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

This post is sponsored and contributed by Thumbtack, a Patch Brand Partner.

While it might seem awfully tempting to try to fix that wobbly table or rattling AC unit on your own, most home repairs are best left to the professionals. Hiring a handyman can save you time and stress — and Thumbtack, a convenient home services app used by millions, makes it easier than ever to find a handyman in the San Rafael area.

Each pro on Thumbtack has their own profile with price information, allowing you to find a handyman who works within your budget. The average cost to hire a handyman in the greater San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA region is $68 per hour, according to data obtained by Thumbtack.

Eager to get started on those home repairs? Here are some professional handymen in the San Rafael area.

Find out what’s happening in San Rafaelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Mario Lopez Jr

• Customer review: “Very organized, good work quality and very clean! Highly recommended!”
• Check availability

Bambo mobile

Carlos Garces

• Customer review: “Carlos was able to finished up a job that another handyman abandoned. Very flexible and creative in completing the task at hand.”
• Check availability

Once you’ve identified those home repairs, Thumbtack can connect you to pros in the San Rafael area to complete just about any home task. You can hire a house cleaner, electrician, plumber, landscaper and pretty much any other professional you can think of to help you tackle that to-do list. Thumbtack pros even have reviews, so you know exactly what other San Rafael community members thought of their services.

Need help with a home repair or task in the San Rafael area? Let the pros at Thumbtack help you get the job done!

Pricing data is based on projects requested on Thumbtack in the past 24 months as reported directly by the independent service professional or individual consumer.

Find out what’s happening in San Rafaelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This post is sponsored and contributed by Thumbtack, a Patch Brand Partner.

Need A Repair? Here’s How Much A Handyman Costs In The San Rafael Area

The rules of replying:

• Be respectful. This is a space for friendly local discussions. No racist, discriminatory, vulgar or threatening language will be tolerated.
• Be transparent. Use your real name, and back up your claims.
• Keep it local and relevant. Make sure your replies stay on topic.
• Review the Patch Community Guidelines.

Reply to this articleReply

The post Want A Restore? This is How A lot A Handyman Prices In The San Rafael Space appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — With two kids attending school from home, Simonia Clifton saw her energy bill skyrocket during the pandemic.

Clifton said her bill was “Between $75 and $100 more than usual and that just kind of made it difficult to budget, especially having lost my job from COVID and being on unemployment at the same time.”

She began cutting back elsewhere in order to cover her family’s growing energy costs, including on running heat.

RELATED: PG&E customers could be hit with rate hike of more than $760 over 2 years

Clifton isn’t alone, according to the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey from last July through this August, which measures the pandemic’s social and economic impact.

The ABC7 News data team analyzed the survey’s findings for San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley and found that one-fifth of households reduced or forwent basic necessities, such as food or medicine, to pay an energy bill.

App users: For a better experience, click here to view the graph in a new window.

These struggles didn’t fall equally on all residents. Race and ethnicity, education level, income, and households with children all played a factor in higher percentages.

Forty-seven percent of those who identified as Hispanic or Latino reduced or forwent basic necessities, such as food or medicine, to pay an energy bill. Thirty-seven percent of individuals surveyed who identified as Black also forwent basic necessities to pay an energy bill. More than half of those who have less than a high school education faced the same circumstances, along with almost a third of households with children under 18.

App users: For a better experience, click here to view the graph in a new window.

Dennis Osmer, the executive director of the Central Coast and San Francisco Peninsula Energy Services, said the situation could become worse with the moratorium on power shutoffs ending.

“I think it adds numbers to those numbers, this is a lot worse in its effect,” he said.

Help exists. Arthur Higgins receives assistance from the low income home energy assistance program.

“The program made all of the difference in the world. It kept the power on. They made my house more energy efficient,” Higgins said.

Households with a member who lost employment income in the previous month were more than three times as likely to be unable to pay their energy bills as those without income loss.

App users: For a better experience, click here to view the graph in a new window.

Gabriela Sandoval, the director of Race & Equity Policy with The Utility Reform Network (TURN) said, “We went into the pandemic with customers owing in California about $500 million and we know that right now the big four utility company customers owe about $2 billion .”

The big four includes PG&E customers here in the Bay Area, making up approximately $900 million of that debt, according to Sandoval.

By email, a PG&E Spokesperson told ABC7 News customers who are having difficulty paying their bills can be put on a payment plan or possibly qualify for the CARE program which offers a monthly discount of 20% or more on gas and electricity. The Family Electric Rate Assistance Program offers a monthly discount of 18% on electricity only.

“It’s stunning to look at how these costs have increased and the impact on the people who can least afford it is really heartbreaking,” Osmer said.

If you’re on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live

Copyright © 2022 KGO-TV. All rights reserved.

The post Knowledge reveals one-fifth of San Francisco metro space households are struggling to pay rising utility prices appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.