Looking for landscape design ideas

[MrLonzo]

Can’t seem to find a lawn mowing service to do small jobs at a reasonable price at my Courtyard Villa. So, I decided it’s best to replace my tiny little front lawn with some sort of low maintenance landscaping. If you’ve done this and have some photos you’d like to share, I’d appreciate it! I’m looking for design ideas.

[Kelevision]

Can’t seem to find a lawn mowing service to do small jobs at a reasonable price at my Courtyard Villa. So, I decided it’s best to replace my tiny little front lawn with some sort of low maintenance landscaping. If you’ve done this and have some photos you’d like to share, I’d appreciate it! I’m looking for design ideas.

You could also check the pre owned CYV’s for sale to get ideas on the villages website. Good luck. I replaced my front yard grass with landscaping stone. I’m glad I did.

[Two Bills]

[QUOTE=Kelevision;2246465] I replaced my front yard grass with landscaping stone. /QUOTE]

Reported!:icon_wink:

[Kelevision]

[QUOTE=Kelevision;2246465] I replaced my front yard grass with landscaping stone. /QUOTE]

Reported!:icon_wink:
:jester:

[villagetinker]

Can’t seem to find a lawn mowing service to do small jobs at a reasonable price at my Courtyard Villa. So, I decided it’s best to replace my tiny little front lawn with some sort of low maintenance landscaping. If you’ve done this and have some photos you’d like to share, I’d appreciate it! I’m looking for design ideas.

Be sure to check with ARC before you make changes, if you get reported and whatever you did was not approved you may be forced to return to original status. You might also look into a robotic lawn mower; it could pay for itself in a year.

[MrLonzo]

Be sure to check with ARC before you make changes, if you get reported and whatever you did was not approved you may be forced to return to original status. You might also look into a robotic lawn mower; it could pay for itself in a year.

Interesting the realtor never gave me a list of CC&Rs, rules, guidelines, or list of do's/dont's when I purchased. What is ARC?

[Bogie Shooter]

It’s all here.
VCDD Community Standards (https://districtgov.org/departments/Community-Standards/community-standards.aspx)

[Topspinmo]

Can’t seem to find a lawn mowing service to do small jobs at a reasonable price at my Courtyard Villa. So, I decided it’s best to replace my tiny little front lawn with some sort of low maintenance landscaping. If you’ve done this and have some photos you’d like to share, I’d appreciate it! I’m looking for design ideas.


Why not take cart ride to different CYV around villages and look at options. Then, make sure the comply with your districts regulations.

[vintageogauge]

Interesting the realtor never gave me a list of CC&Rs, rules, guidelines, or list of do's/dont's when I purchased. What is ARC?

I'll guarantee you that when you closed on your home you signed a paper stating that you read and understood the deed restrictions. The problem is most people sign it and don't read them, same thing happens in Condo Associations and the sellers really don't want you to read the documents.

[Normal]

I smell fines and an expensive re sod job in someone’s future.
https://www.**************.com/2023/07/05/villagers-pursuing-an-injunction-to-hold-off-fines-on-illicit-stone-landscaping/

[JMintzer]

Interesting the realtor never gave me a list of CC&Rs, rules, guidelines, or list of do's/dont's when I purchased. What is ARC?

It's not the realtors job. You should receive them with your closing documents.

I know we did...

[MrLonzo]

It's not the realtors job. You should receive them with your closing documents.

I know we did...

'Closing documents'? Consisting of what? And who provides them? The only thing I received was the closing statement from Escrow.

[JoMar]

OP joined in 2020. Why do I think this is a post to stir the pot?

[TeresaE]

'Closing documents'? Consisting of what? And who provides them? The only thing I received was the closing statement from Escrow.

The CCnRs should have been given to you with the purchase and sale agreement. In that agreement you would have signed a document stating you received them.

[retiredguy123]

OP, if you are going to replace grass with stones, you need to replace all of your grass, front and back, to eliminate the cost of mowing. You will not save any money on mowing if you leave grass in the back. Two companies who will do a good job are Choice Maintenance and Jamies, but they are not cheap. Whoever you hire, do not pay money in advance. And, get ARC approval before you start the work.

[ron32162]

Drive around look at other villas and take pictures

[CALiz]

I'd suggest take your time to decide on landscaping, and yes you will need to get ARC pre-approval no matter what you do.

Scope out different neighborhoods, talk to people, possibly attend Enrichment classes on landscaping.

We have a courtyard villa, and being gardening-inclined myself, I went with mulch for back&side yard with bottlebrush bushes and other, with stones around the drainage drain depression in my backyard corner. In front, used some ground-cover plants with bushes and flowering plants with mulch. We do have a small section of lawn in front, which we have a light weight, small (12"x12") electric mower (cutest thing-makes mowing fun).

There is a Gardening Inspirations Gardening Club (free club, no pre-registration needed) at Rohan Rec Center at 1pm on Friday September 1st. There you can talk with knowledgable people if you are inclined (bring pictures of your space).

[MrLonzo]

The CCnRs should have been given to you with the purchase and sale agreement. In that agreement you would have signed a document stating you received them.

The other poster said it's not the responsibility of the real estate agent to provide that document. Who is? My question is: "should have been given to you" by whom?
No one gave me a document.

[Normal]

This morning’s paper had a Villager having his fines reduced to less than 2000 dollars!
https://www.**************.com/2023/08/17/deed-compliance-debacle-prompts-officials-to-invite-jennifer-parr-to-meeting/

It doesn’t matter if someone knew or didn’t, the owner was fined for unsanctioned landscaping changes. The house has to be returned to compliance. Always check your deed restrictions. In most cases, you can’t do anything within 10 feet of a road, or within 5 feet of a neighbor.

[retiredguy123]

The other poster said it's not the responsibility of the real estate agent to provide that document. Who is? My question is: "should have been given to you" by whom?
No one gave me a document.
I assume that you signed for and received a warranty deed for your house. If not, you don't own the house. The warranty deed refers to deed restrictions. Go to "districtgov.org" and click on "how do I" and you can download your deed restriction document. That document will tell you about the need to get ARC (architectural review committee) approval to make changes to your property.

The real estate agent has nothing to do with any of this or any responsibility to tell you about it.

[PurePeach]

It's not the realtors job. You should receive them with your closing documents.

I know we did...

We received only the documents necessary to close the sale of the house. I learned of the ARC after I moved in and planted something in front of my house and someone mentioned that I needed ARC approval. However, I went to a seminar recently about planting natural things in the yard rather than water-sucking lawns and learned that what we planted is considered a grass and it is OK. I also had to dig through all the internet sites that TV has and found the restrictions for my PV area. None of this stuff is easy to find. Really wish TV would invest the structuring of an intranet site so that all their information would be in one place.

[retiredguy123]

We received only the documents necessary to close the sale of the house. I learned of the ARC after I moved in and planted something in front of my house and someone mentioned that I needed ARC approval. However, I went to a seminar recently about planting natural things in the yard rather than water-sucking lawns and learned that what we planted is considered a grass and it is OK. I also had to dig through all the internet sites that TV has and found the restrictions for my PV area. None of this stuff is easy to find. Really wish TV would invest the structuring of an intranet site so that all their information would be in one place.
There is a website. It is "districtgov.org". Just click on " how do I" and it will take you to any deed restriction document you want. Legally, the deed restriction document is part of the warranty deed to your house.

[Karmanng]

You could also check the pre owned CYV’s for sale to get ideas on the villages website. Good luck. I replaced my front yard grass with landscaping stone. I’m glad I did.

I will be doing this too but did you get ARC approval?

[Karmanng]

I'd suggest take your time to decide on landscaping, and yes you will need to get ARC pre-approval no matter what you do.

Scope out different neighborhoods, talk to people, possibly attend Enrichment classes on landscaping.

We have a courtyard villa, and being gardening-inclined myself, I went with mulch for back&side yard with bottlebrush bushes and other, with stones around the drainage drain depression in my backyard corner. In front, used some ground-cover plants with bushes and flowering plants with mulch. We do have a small section of lawn in front, which we have a light weight, small (12"x12") electric mower (cutest thing-makes mowing fun).

There is a Gardening Inspirations Gardening Club (free club, no pre-registration needed) at Rohan Rec Center at 1pm on Friday September 1st. There you can talk with knowledgable people if you are inclined (bring pictures of your space).

Where u get the mower from?

[MrLonzo]

I assume that you signed for and received a warranty deed for your house. If not, you don't own the house. The warranty deed refers to deed restrictions. Go to "districtgov.org" and click on "how do I" and you can download your deed restriction document. That document will tell you about the need to get ARC (architectural review committee) approval to make changes to your property.

The real estate agent has nothing to do with any of this or any responsibility to tell you about it.

Well, no one gave me anything. I do have a copy of the warranty deed, but I never 'signed' for it. I asked escrow for it, but they said I'd have to get it from public records which is what I did.

Also, I finally also got a copy of the Declaration of CC&Rs, which I had to download from the CDD site. Everyone's saying I should have received a copy on closing, but I'm still asking, "from whom?" Whoever that 'whom' is, I'd like to contact to ask why I was never provided a copy of what everyone is saying I should have been provided with.

[AKKlein]

More people need to check out the grass alternatives that are available and the ARC will approve. Sorry, I do not have a list. Working on finding one. Will share if I locate it.

[retiredguy123]

Well, no one gave me anything. I do have a copy of the warranty deed, but I never 'signed' for it. I asked escrow for it, but they said I'd have to get it from public records which is what I did.

Also, I finally also got a copy of the Declaration of CC&Rs, which I had to download from the CDD site. Everyone's saying I should have received a copy on closing, but I'm still asking, "from whom?" Whoever that 'whom' is, I'd like to contact to ask why I was never provided a copy of what everyone is saying I should have been provided with.
I don't know who you mean by everyone, but I didn't receive a paper copy of the deed restriction document at my closing. But, I did receive a warranty deed that clearly states that the property is subject to easements and restrictions. And, these are described in detail in the deed restriction and covenants document that is available on the "districtgov.org" website for all Villages houses. In that document, it requires the owner to get approval from the architectural review committee to make certain changes to the property, such as landscaping changes. I am not a lawyer, but I think the deed restriction document is legally binding on the property owner because it is referenced in the warranty deed. The title company who processed the closing was responsible for conveying to you the warranty deed, which apparently they did. If you think that you are not bound by the deed restrictions, I guess you could sue the title company, but I don't think you would win. It sounds like they followed the same closing process that is used for everyone who purchases a house in The Villages.

[Trayderjoe]

The other poster said it's not the responsibility of the real estate agent to provide that document. Who is? My question is: "should have been given to you" by whom?
No one gave me a document.

I don’t know if anyone has found the answer to this comment (if so, please comment here), but if the home was purchased through a non-Villages real estate agent, maybe they did not inform you/provide you with the CDD covenants?

[HospitalCoder]

Be sure to check with ARC before you make changes, if you get reported and whatever you did was not approved you may be forced to return to original status. You might also look into a robotic lawn mower; it could pay for itself in a year.

Can you recommend a particular model?

[retiredguy123]

I don’t know if anyone has found the answer to this comment (if so, please comment here), but if the home was purchased through a non-Villages real estate agent, maybe they did not inform you/provide you with the CDD covenants?
I purchased a new house from The Villages, and the title company, McLin Burnsed, infomed me of the covenants, but did not provide me with a paper copy, only a copy of the warranty deed.

Note that a buyer has no contract with any real estate company, so the real estate agents involved in the sale have no legal obligation to the buyer at all. Real estate agents represent the seller, not the buyer.

[Trayderjoe]

I purchased a new house from The Villages, and the title company, McLin Burnsed, infomed me of the covenants, but did not provide me with a paper copy, only a copy of the warranty deed.

Note that a buyer has no contract with any real estate company, so the real estate agents involved in the sale have no legal obligation to the buyer at all. Real estate agents represent the seller, not the buyer.

Thanks for the input, however my original question remains: Do non-Villages real estate agents inform/provide a buyer the covenants? I suspect they don’t provide a copy, especially after the input provided relative to purchase from The Villages.

[retiredguy123]

Thanks for the input, however my original question remains: Do non-Villages real estate agents inform/provide a buyer the covenants? I suspect they don’t provide a copy, especially after the input provided relative to purchase from The Villages.
I doubt if most of them provide a paper copy of the deed restrictions because it is public information available on the Internet. Non-Villages and Villages agents depend on the title company to handle all legal obligations of the sale. The title company has the duty to transfer a clear, legal title from the seller to the buyer. Typically, they will provide the buyer with a warranty deed and a plat for the property. Both of those documents refer to the deed restriction document that is obtainable online.

[Trayderjoe]

I doubt if most of them provide a paper copy of the deed restrictions because it is public information available on the Internet. Non-Villages and Villages agents depend on the title company to handle all legal obligations of the sale. The title company has the duty to transfer a clear, legal title from the seller to the buyer. Typically, they will provide the buyer with a warranty deed and a plat for the property. Both of those documents refer to the deed restriction document that is obtainable online.

Thanks for the clarification. I do remember reading the covenants BEFORE making a financial commitment to the purchase, as part of the seller’s disclosures. We did not meet with the title company rep until we were ready to make our down payment and had signed documents including acknowledgment of receipt of the covenants. I had, and have, no problem making people wait while I review any documents, line by line, that involve my signature. Sad to say but the only person I trust at all times is the one looking back at me in the mirror. I trust my wife as well, but even then…….

[villagetinker]

Can you recommend a particular model?

No, my lot is too large, I would rely on Consumer Reports for this info.

[JMintzer]

'Closing documents'? Consisting of what? And who provides them? The only thing I received was the closing statement from Escrow.

The title company you used...