Let's Talk Utilities - Answering Your Questions About Tennessee || Becoming A Tennessean

[@dannypritchard4919]

I have lived in east Tennessee all my life i live really close to the north Carolina state line in a little town called elizabethton i want to welcome you to Tennessee my friend wish you nothing but the best

[@noeldee9236]

I have T-Mobile have for many years we hardly have service on the property but we’re just going to put in internet .

[@joeschmo7957]

I know I am late on the reply. I wish this guy could follow up as I am leaving the golden showers state and heading that way. Considering Clarksville and NE Tennessee, I don't think I could go wrong, either way, the first hopeful sign will be L.A. in the rearview mirror and lets start there.

[@MrCoopersdad]

what about using firewood to heat your home? With a potbelly stove type or ?

[@Taking_Back_Thyme]

Here in NorCal we are also on a well. No electricity means no lights, no cooking, no water and no flushing toilets. PGE is $400+ in the winter and not much lower in summer. We live with space heaters and fans.

[@clintonjoyner4482]

We live in West Tennessee, the county we are in is the second lowest in property tax in the state. If you have fifteen or more acres you can file small farm exemption. We pay less than $600 property tax. We also have a well, may spend $500 every five years in upkeep. Chickasaw Electric is a dependable and cheap utility. Born and raised on the property I'm on. Love Tennessee.

[@thegoodlife1238]

We are transplants here. LOVE west TN!!!

[@clintonjoyner4482]

@@thegoodlife1238 where did you transplant from? How long have you been in God's country?

[@thegoodlife1238]

@@clintonjoyner4482 southern New Mexico.... desert. We will be here 4 years on August 1st. LOVE it here. Born and raised in the city, but the country is my heart! Tennessee called to us.

[@clintonjoyner4482]

@@thegoodlife1238 welcome.

[@thegoodlife1238]

@@clintonjoyner4482 Thank you!

[@WackyWitchTV]

Well water compared to bleach filtered Los Angeles sewer water? I’ll take well all day!

[@sturgillcobb1502]

In Doeville city water comes in $26-$29. $80-$83 on electric maybe $100-$107 in winter. Supplement electric with 12v lighting, fans, day time TV off off inverter along with power tools from solar. Hardly ever use ventless propane fireplace. Always have a generator just in case to power a room heater and fridge. I'd do a wood stove but up in these mountains by the time a fire truck water pumper gets here you burned down already. Cooking on the porch on a propane stove until winter saves too.

[@RCTPatriot75]

A properly functioning septic tank should rarely, very rarely, need to be pumped.

[@ChrisOutdoorAdventures]

Negative Robert. The solids may decompose and lessen but they do not disappear. Plan to pump your tank every 3-5 years. If you wait too long you will plug the leech field, and that is expensive.

[@toddmcafee]

I am leaving Seattle the info helps

[@Hoagmatthew]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Glad it does

[@donblunkall5607]

U r doin a great thing for your viewers. It's always nice to listen and learn from decent people that are giving their time to help others. Relax dude, mean people suck.

[@curlyque2717]

Heat pump is the best way to go in Tennessee. We do not use any form of gas and our electric is around $150-190. Lower in the winter than summer.

[@SargNickFury]

There's several things you can do to reduce those winter heating bills. Most houses leak like a sieve. The biggest improvement I made was to put up Radiant Barrier in the attic, if you are fairly limber depending on attic you can usually just do it by yourself, though a second pair of hands helps. Buy the radiant barrier yourself (easily found at contractor prices on ebay) and a tack hammer and you can install it cheap. You will be amazed how much that alone will help. In our case it immediately was like a 50 dollar monthly reduction. Follow up with insulating foam, insulating power outlets (yes added up they equal a open window or two) insulation for water heater etc and you can cut down those winter heating bills ALOT. Also if you have a basement and can find old style incandescent bulbs set a lamp up and leave them running...yes I said leave them running incandescent bulbs are the most efficient heaters per wattage more so then central heat and air. Will keep pipes from freezing, and also save on electric bill over all. This trick really only works if you have a basement. The trouble is incandescent bulbs are hard to find now thanks to silly laws. Good luck.

[@Hoagmatthew]

This is a lot of great info! Might even be worth a video in it's own

[@SargNickFury]

@@Hoagmatthew You might check to see if TVA, the local EPB in your area, or given your locale maybe oak ridge hold some energy/insulation savings seminars. I went to one I think hosted by TVA some years back and it taught me a lot. Oh and on the radiant barrier, Tack hammer is better then a powered tack driver, because even though they are powered they are near impossible to use in the narrow space near the eaves in attic....manual is better. Also don't put radiant barrier on floor of attic put it from joist to joist along the top, you can put foam in the floor if you like, spray or r-10 sheets if your going to floor it. Foam will add considerable cost but if your really serious it works best. The barrier is a first step, cheap quick, and comparatively easy. (pink stuff is useless fiberglass insulation is a waste). If you have basement windows no one actually uses cut some r-10 foam to fit as well. some of those seminars will teach you really advanced stuff like using smoke pencils etc to find leaks. Private companies will do energy audits for you but charge way too much for something you can do yourself, but if your short on time, they could probably help a lot.

[@Leovlogs423]

Let me talk you in Cali the light 💡 bill 💵 is not no more chip bro 😎 your better over there 👉 stay there a lot off people are buying houses out off Cali

[@frankpalermo9307]

Great information. Couple of questions for you if you dont mind. 1) Wife is concerned about tornadoes. Have you experienced anything and what are warnings like. 2) Wild animals? Bears, mountain lions, etc. I remember you mentioning skunks and snakes. 3) Hunting and fishing in Tennessee. 4) Seafood in Tennessee? What are the favorites? Catfish and gulf shrimp? I own a fish market and clam bar in Ny and would like to perhaps open up a small business when my family and i make the move south. Thanks again for the videos. We love watching and learning from your channel. STAY WELL

[@redtango76]

I live in Middle Tn and have been to East TN numerous times. 1)We do have tornados. In fact last march we had a big one in East Nashville not far from my home. There are loud sirens that go off when there is a tornado danger. We also have an NOAA radio that sounds an alarm when it's time to take shelter. It's really not as scary as it may seem. 2) TN has lots of black bears especially in east TN, no cougars since about early 1900, wild turkeys, lots of deer, I've seen a few skunks and coyotes, a few different varieties of snakes including copperhead but I've never seen one 3) I don't hunt but I know we have hunting because I ve seen the fall hunters but don't know much about pricing or seasons. 4) Seafood..other than Catfish there isn't much and it's not the same quality as the seafood I was used to in Seattle. I eat seafood when I travel back home or to other coastal areas. I don't buy it here unless is smoked.

[@Hoagmatthew]

All good questions? I will have videos addressing all of these 🙌🏻

[@frankpalermo9307]

@@redtango76 Thank you so much for the reply. Appreciate it. Maybe I can bring some fresh East coast seafood to Tennessee

[@ML-vz9oz]

West and Middle TN will occasionally have Tornado but not East TN where the mountains. We do get (ETn) flash floods during rainy season though. Wildlife like black bear, elk, deer, turkey, rattle snakes, and leftist are present in ETn. We don't have the freshest seafood but we do have largemouth bass and rainbow trout.. We also have the best flyfishing in the nation that even Brad Pitt will occasionally visit.

[@larkatmic]

Look at that sunshine. I’ll take 39 degrees and sunshine. 😊 Your land looks beautiful. Thanks for more insight on advice with the costs of living in beautiful Tennessee. Glad your pup is doing better.

[@Hoagmatthew]

Any time!

[@massbassguy1400]

I'm a plumber in MA. I can tell a homeowner is prepared when they have their transfer switch for a generator hooked up to well pump, heating source, (hw), and refrigerator. Good info

[@jstevens74]

Appreciate the reality of this documentary. It really helps me plan my exit from CA too. Thank you!

[@robertware665]

I think that east Tennessee is so beautiful I hope to be able to move there one day Good video

[@MrGWoodle]

Actually TVA generates your electric power. TVA is US government owned & operated. Because of the TVA power dams, electricity is cheap. There is a mix of fossil + nuclear + renewable energy sources. Your local utility connects TVA to your house. They may offer slightly different plans for final electric cost.

[@tomp6685]

One thing that people may not know in many areas of Tennessee if you're filling up a swimming pool call the utility company and they will give you a flat rate. My parents fill up there 25 thousand gallon above ground pool every year for around 120 bucks! My whole life here we have never had a water shortage even in the driest of years and it's always been cheap due to the abundance of rivers and lakes.

[@randolphmckinney8769]

You forgot to caution people who are buying land that the property should percolated BEFORE they buy it. This is a test of how much water the ground will absorb and how fast. The results will tell them and the city how many bedrooms their house can have.

[@Hoagmatthew]

Interesting, I didn't know that either. I didn't think the clay would have an fluctuating absorption

[@lynnboutwell3420]

Is that in every city in tennessee. Is it like a perk test for water level.

[@randolphmckinney8769]

@@Hoagmatthew It does due to the bedrock below the ground. See reply below.

[@randolphmckinney8769]

@@lynnboutwell3420 It is the perk test! This must be done if you have a septic tank. Limestone is the bedrock of East and Middle TN. Sand is the bedrock of West TN. Water can only sink to that level. Your local health dept will review your test and determine how many bedrooms you can have and how the size of your drain field. That is the reason to do the test BEFORE you purchase the land.

[@jmanonmakes]

Great info. Thanks. Love seeing the sunshine and all the animals. Glad Macey is feeling better.

[@Hoagmatthew]

Relieved she is doing well too 👏🏻

[@Noahsoak]

Wells.... As long as you have electricity and nothing breaks. Would be nice to not have to worry about it. I'm in oregon with well. Do have a wood stove, which is a must! Electricity goes, I'm still warm and I can make food.

[@southernsafety9749]

You can negotiate as multiple family members and get propane for less. Our local propane company wanted $2.59. I got ours for $1.89. We buy as 3 families. We live about 1 hour east of you.

[@Hoagmatthew]

Really? That is great info , thank you. I will be sure to pass that on

[@jimfishburn3364]

Check with Ft Loudon and see if they will get you on an equation program. I'm on Alcoa but at the end of the line where I could get Ft Loudon or Alcoa. I have AT&T internet but all of my phones are Verizon. I'm following so will dodge in and out. Jim

[@danagoglia1406]

What's an equation program? I just had fort loudon do an install.

[@ryanjsgrandma2009]

We live in HohenwaldTn ,Lewis county. Glad to help out if anyone interested in this area.

[@Noahsoak]

Not utility question, but what's the deal with property taxes? I see county and some have city as well. What's up with that?

[@rebeccarpwebb4132]

Hi From Niota !!

[@edwardcuevas6974]

Here in rural Bledsoe we have natural gas. Who'da thought?

[@brendahull4910]

Happy to see that Macey is feeling better!

[@Hoagmatthew]

She is 👏🏻👏🏻

[@darlenesmith9542]

Thank you!

[@TWBlack]

Just found your channel. We're in N.E. TN, fairly rural area of Greene county. Will be happy to answer any questions for our area as well! I moved to the Cumberland plateau in '98 but unfortunately got a divorce and ended up in the area where I am now!! My new hubby grew up in San Diego which is where my in-laws still are!!

[@dawnroach6073]

Love living here in Greene county. We are in the Bulls Gap area. Have 25.5 acres that we are planning on building a small home on with solar.

[@TWBlack]

@@dawnroach6073 Oh wow that sounds wonderful!!! I'm on the north end of the county in Chuckey. Would love way more land way further out. We bought this place when my Mom moved it with us because it was much bigger but she passed away 1-1/2 yrs later...now with my health not in the best of shape it's way too much for me to take care of and my hubby drives truck (I used to drive also) and is only home a day or two a week so most of it's left up to me. I'd really like to sell the place and get something way smaller but I fear with the influx on new folks we've been priced out of our comfort zone. A friend's mom lived in Mosheim and she was telling me there's a little Mennonite store somewhere there in Bull's Gap but I've only ever been as far as the little truck stop right there..are you familiar of where it is?? Would love to check it out!! Thanks for commenting, love finding people that are close by on here!

[@dawnroach6073]

@@TWBlack its called Yoders. Its just past truck stop on 11e. Love the store. The BLT's are great. You have Troyer's over your way. Basically the same thing. I do instacart and deliver sometimes to Chuckey area.

[@TWBlack]

@@dawnroach6073 Yes exactly Troyers. Love this store up here but haven't been to Yoders...think I'd find anything different there that I may not find up here?

[@dawnroach6073]

No I think they are basically the same lol.

[@cynthiahafner796]

So glad Macey is feeling better! 🙂 I don’t like well water at all! Stinky and stains everything. In Indiana my hubby knew I only wanted city water. Sorry I guess I’m finicky but I saw too many negatives to want it. Solar is great in SoCal lol....

[@sharons11157]

There's also negatives to city water, chlorine and fluoride!

[@Hoagmatthew]

Very true

[@richardfowler3254]

@@sharons11157 But there are filters that can address that. All of this is great info, I like a lot of old timers from CA are planning our exit strategy. I have spent 60 years here, had an awesome career, have a very nice pension and a ton of equity. Now it is time to get serious about finding a new home on or near a lake where I can fish without having to drive 5-6 hours to see a mountain stream and trees...

[@noeldee9236]

@@sharons11157 chlorine keeps the water clean of bacteria . Fluoride is good for the teeth

[@sharons11157]

@@richardfowler3254 But most people don't use those filters.

[@robertcornelisse8664]

Thank you for the videos, I am new to the channel. How did you go about finding property out of state, how did you went about getting a mortgage for a house out of state (did you guys already found work before moving) did you already had family or friends in the area before you moved there? Sorry for a the questions. Me and my wife looking to relocate to another state. But it's a little overwhelming sometimes.

[@karolynnolson3359]

Glad 2 c that Macey is starting 2 feel batter. 🐾❤

[@Hoagmatthew]

👏🏻👏🏻

[@debbz575]

I am happy to see Macey feeling better. I have questions that may potentially be a video one day and Did you a babs visit Tenn prior to purchasing your property. How many generators are connected to your home. How easy is a generator to use when house power goes out. How often does the Propane Tank need to be refilled and how much does it costs to fill up. Do you have bulk pickup days for spring cleaning in your city?

[@Hoagmatthew]

All good questions! We only have one generator per house, super simply to use. Propane tanks depend on the use, Winter obliviously more often than Summer if it is responsible for heating. No bulk pick up days where we are, in the city yes. We just go to the dump if we have bulk cleanup and it is around $12

[@yourstruly1853]

I pay for propane in Ca and never that high. My high was 1.99 🤔

[@noeldee9236]

I’m in middle Tn it’s $3.50-$5.00 here

[@mjk4215]

Thanks for the info.

[@Hoagmatthew]

Any time!

[@deejenkins8314]

That is a high price for public water in TN. I lived in Blount county for 30 years and my water bill was never higher than $25. Not all well water in the area is hard water, it honestly just depends on the limestone and mineral content on the property.

[@danagoglia1406]

Hi Dee. My water bill is 20$ even I dont use any water at all. I'm in blount.

[@Wulfdon]

Thanks for answering the questions. You know I'm going to be heading for the mountains so I hope I won't have to resort to smoke signals in lieu of Internet. LOL.

[@Hoagmatthew]

🤣🤣🤣

[@danielhansen6991]

Can't wait to get to Tennessee, great video bro.

[@crimsonpearl4686]

Interesting! I live in NJ my whole life and plan on retiring in either KY or TN. Still doing research as I have about another 7, 8 years. Its seem Central TN is more modern and middle class.

[@tomp6685]

Tennessee is a smarter choice because your 401k, social security or retirement plan won't be subjected to state income tax which kentucky has. Middle Tennessee is nice but East Tennessee is more beautiful and Knoxville is very modern and has everything you need.

[@MikeTyson2]

I bet your electric bill isn't 140 lately

[@sashismith1022]

That's good information.

[@Hoagmatthew]

Glad you think so!

[@chloedream8969]

Awww - Happy Macy's feeling better 😊 - loving your vlogs -

[@Hoagmatthew]

Thank you!! 😊

[@karlarobinson453]

I just found your channel and wanted to say thanks for posting these information videos. I'm curious-how come a lot of the properties don't have fencing. I have dogs (as you do) and was wondering if you were concerned about them running away or do your dogs stay close by. I'm afraid my dogs catch a glimpse of freedom and then I'll be running a 5K to catch them! LOL

[@InjusticeOfanimals]

Don’t forget you’re keeping the chicks and baby pig nice and warm too :)

[@Hoagmatthew]

Very true

[@ES-bn1bi]

Great video! Useful information. Thank you.

[@Hoagmatthew]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dixiebling8599]

Fresh into TN- we're in Powell- so just north of ya a bit. Haven't been here long enough to gage bills yet, but excited to find someone nearby to start gathering some information as we're looking to make this a forever home here in the next year or so (currently renting)- hoping to get a homestead going if the land isn't bought up by all those fleeing the blue states before we narrow down our area! Thank you for the info: )

[@ginaneely1147]

Good info, just what I needed. Thanks

[@Hoagmatthew]

Glad it was helpful!

[@barryp8145]

Great info, thanks!

[@willieoakley2336]

Love your videos welcome to Tennessee again love the video.s

[@Hoagmatthew]

Appreciate it!

[@Stall-FedCalves]

Hopefully, I'll be moving out there at the turn of this month. If anyone has a room, hit me up!

[@ajlang9668]

Hey April, I’m from Nashville ( outside ) and I’ll be moving back up toward Townsend, TN outside Smokey Mountains area by March 1st. . I may be interested in a roommate. 😊It’s just me and my sweet dog 🐶 (gigi). Send me and email [e-mail] let me know what your interest is. I’m moving back for a Great Church in the area 😆😁

[@carlhanners7988]

Was wondering what your taxes are mine are about 2700 around 1 acre and I live 5 min from beaches

[@tomp6685]

I live on one acre and I pay 400 dollars a year in property taxes because I live out in the country. Some people pay more some less. My parents pay about 1400 a year in the city.

[@winnkoehler7152]

Lots of great information. Thank you for taking the time to do this.

[@DavidRossD]

Thank you so much!

[@Hoagmatthew]

You're welcome!

[@DRFelGood]

Haha those CCC look delicious ❣️

[@Hoagmatthew]

They smelled so good 😔

[@don8apparel497]

Ft Loudon Electric is the worst.

[@JoMonki]

Just my opinion. I loved your editing up to the point of using the filters? I am assuming last 2 episodes. I still love your videos just not a fan of the filter. It's muting the colors and darkening everything. Just an FYI haha I loved seeing the colors and vibrancy in life. But the filters are killing that natural look.