[Ohiogirl]

but I will try to prioritize what I think should have been the order, at least for us:

- customize closets (amazing difference)

- add attic storage and stairs (in garage)

- add cabinets and shelving (if extra room) in laundry room or over washer/dryer in garage

- figure out what works for you for garage storage system (we used Rubbermaid hanging system, a 6 ft storage locker, a narrow workbench in back of garage (where we keep one of our golf cart chargers), a 3 foot tool storage piece with perfect space on top for one of our golf cart chargers. Everyone has different stuff important to them - we needed to figure out how to hang a bike for retrieval without moving golf carts and the car - we have a 1-1/2 car garage, but it's quite deep and we have a small car and 2 golf carts we keep inside.

- outdoor rug on our lanai makes it feel like a room - we love it and have no plans to enclose the lanai as it's just too nice in spring and fall and much of the winter. We're not there in summer, might make a difference if we were.

- we added gutters right away, keeps rain from pouring down our lanai screens and pooling, and also enables us to hook up a rain barrel (I'm a gardener) for extra irrigation now and then.

- added landscaping, removed front yard grass (we have a CYV). Allows much lower maintenance costs when we're away. Have backyard mowed about monthly in summer (ask a co. that already does your neighbor's regularly to do it less often for you while they're in the neighborhood).

- tinted windows. We really noticed a difference on our south, east and west exposures. Think it has helped the a/c bills.

- painted interior. I like to paint, did this myself, but I think painting costs are reasonable in TV

- we added a 2nd fridge (some people barely use their only fridge, but we had a small, freezer on the top model that we disliked - moved it to the laundry room for beverage storage, and freezer usage, mostly.

- brought down a toaster/convection oven which we use all the time. Our oven (we have gas) has a blower that heats up the villa big-time so I avoid using the regular oven except in cooler weather.

Ours came with vertical blinds and aluminum mini-blinds, which we still have. Have added curtains, valances, etc. Haven't felt need to replace yet, might do so in future.

- added tile backsplash in kitchen and replaced original faucet with nicer one. Added some undercounter lighting, but not happy with our choice, could be better.

Eventually will replace some flooring, but our Armstrong vinyl is still in very good condition and the upgraded carpet still cleans nicely. Be sure you know what you want as people's choices vary widely. A tile person will tell you nothing better, same with wood and laminate people. I still like the feel of walking in my bare feet on carpet.

You will notice that storage is primary - I think almost everyone would agree.

Thought I would really want to replace our laminate counter tops with granite, but ours are still in very good condition and a nice color, so haven't yet and have no immediate plans to do so. The tile backsplash, which I did myself, made an immediate impact.