Lawn care included in homeowners Amenity fee???

[sunnyFLORIDA5828]

Before TV I lived in a 55+ community near here, in Leesburg. I think there was 1,000 single family homes there. One lawn service company. $$$ cost was in monthly amenity fee. Was great. All grass in areas was cut and trimmed in one day. Very efficient. Done well and no doubt a much lower cost than in TV where it’s private for each homeowner.
I think it would be wonderful if each CDD could contract with a licensed firm to cut each property. Cost could be based on approx lot size. Or one general charge for Premier, Designer, and Villa. Would be so much easier for most homeowners, especially snowbirds or owners renting homes.
It’s probably too late now that TV is so entrenched , but I feel the benefits would be awesome. Each homeowner done in each area. Less roads being blocked with many landscape trucks daily. Noise concentrated to only a part of one day per week. And no doubt lower costs for homeowners. Very efficient.

[dewilson58]

Lots of owners do their own lawns.

I wouldn't pay a nickel for Dean's or Massey to touch my lawn.

:icon_wink:

[bopat]

I love being able to choose who does my lawn, and we do it as a group in our neighborhood so we get a deal. Best of both worlds.

[bagboy]

I'll take care of my own lawn/landscaping thank you.

[JohnN]

One of many reasons we chose a rock landscaped courtyard villa

[Topspinmo]

Before TV I lived in a 55+ community near here, in Leesburg. I think there was 1,000 single family homes there. One lawn service company. $$$ cost was in monthly amenity fee. Was great. All grass in areas was cut and trimmed in one day. Very efficient. Done well and no doubt a much lower cost than in TV where it’s private for each homeowner.
I think it would be wonderful if each CDD could contract with a licensed firm to cut each property. Cost could be based on approx lot size. Or one general charge for Premier, Designer, and Villa. Would be so much easier for most homeowners, especially snowbirds or owners renting homes.
It’s probably too late now that TV is so entrenched , but I feel the benefits would be awesome. Each homeowner done in each area. Less roads being blocked with many landscape trucks daily. Noise concentrated to only a part of one day per week. And no doubt lower costs for homeowners. Very efficient.

Villages too big for that.

[MarshBendLover]

I love to cut my grass. It's my time to relax. I don't like to vacuum, do laundry, or dishes, but nobody is suggesting a mass employment to make that part of the amenity fee. Anyone wanna start that?

[Velvet]

I look after my lawn and bushes etc. Most of the time ….

[Happydaz]

I mow my own lawn. Good exercise. I am too fussy to have a tractor spinning around my yard leaving deep ruts and bringing plant diseases and pests from other yards.

[Mleeja]

Before TV I lived in a 55+ community near here, in Leesburg. I think there was 1,000 single family homes there. One lawn service company. $$$ cost was in monthly amenity fee. Was great. All grass in areas was cut and trimmed in one day. Very efficient. Done well and no doubt a much lower cost than in TV where it’s private for each homeowner.
I think it would be wonderful if each CDD could contract with a licensed firm to cut each property. Cost could be based on approx lot size. Or one general charge for Premier, Designer, and Villa. Would be so much easier for most homeowners, especially snowbirds or owners renting homes.
It’s probably too late now that TV is so entrenched , but I feel the benefits would be awesome. Each homeowner done in each area. Less roads being blocked with many landscape trucks daily. Noise concentrated to only a part of one day per week. And no doubt lower costs for homeowners. Very efficient.

Wow! Just think of the size of the contractor needed to maintain all of the yards. There are over 2000 rooftops in CDD 2. Multiply that by 13 and you have a lot of grass to mow!

[vintageogauge]

Lots of owners do their own lawns.

I wouldn't pay a nickel for Dean's or Massey to touch my lawn.

:icon_wink:

With you 100%.

[Papa_lecki]

That works in condos, with small yards or virtually no yards.

I want to be able to control who cuts my grass, not some administrator.
The CDDs can’t even take care of golf courses consistently, what would they do to my grass?

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Before TV I lived in a 55+ community near here, in Leesburg. I think there was 1,000 single family homes there. One lawn service company. $$$ cost was in monthly amenity fee. Was great. All grass in areas was cut and trimmed in one day. Very efficient. Done well and no doubt a much lower cost than in TV where it’s private for each homeowner.
I think it would be wonderful if each CDD could contract with a licensed firm to cut each property. Cost could be based on approx lot size. Or one general charge for Premier, Designer, and Villa. Would be so much easier for most homeowners, especially snowbirds or owners renting homes.
It’s probably too late now that TV is so entrenched , but I feel the benefits would be awesome. Each homeowner done in each area. Less roads being blocked with many landscape trucks daily. Noise concentrated to only a part of one day per week. And no doubt lower costs for homeowners. Very efficient.

In The Villages, we OWN our property, it's not community property or leased. We are responsible for our own property, not for anyone else's property. We pay for or do our own maintenance on it, and we don't pick up the costs for anyone else's. If the neighbor moves out and abandons his property, we're not stuck with the tab to keep it from getting overgrown. That's up to his estate, or the bank if there's a foreclosure.

I'm happy about that. I'm also happy to know that if I die, and there's no one to leave my home to, that my neighborhood won't be stuck with the bill for landscaping on my property.

[BillyGrown]

Lots of owners do their own lawns.

I wouldn't pay a nickel for Dean's or Massey to touch my lawn.

:icon_wink:

The lawns they mow end up with crabgrass and all sorts of weeds. No thank you. Plus, it’s nice to cut the grass when it needs it on my terms.

[shaw8700@outlook.com]

Or a stay as it is. Can you imagine how bad the service would be if they signed with one company to mow every lawn?

[CarlR33]

Your comparing 1000 homes with 10’s of thousands of homes? Then you would get the argument that the CDD is overspending on lawn care, etc, etc. I could not imagine a company taking on a large task like this.

[Papa_lecki]

Let’s put our trash in cans and have the CDDs mow our grass - brilliant ideas.


I will, however, let the CDDs shovel my snow, I don’t have a shovel in my garage.

[RICH1]

I mow my own lawn. Good exercise. I am too fussy to have a tractor spinning around my yard leaving deep ruts and bringing plant diseases and pests from other yards.
Exactly ... It took a lawn fungus for me to wake up! My mower deck and my woman don't stray all over town...

[Ignatz]

I recall that there were a lot of complaints at OTOW about the poor lawn care provided on the leased lots. A hard pass from me.

[golfing eagles]

Before TV I lived in a 55+ community near here, in Leesburg. I think there was 1,000 single family homes there. One lawn service company. $$$ cost was in monthly amenity fee. Was great. All grass in areas was cut and trimmed in one day. Very efficient. Done well and no doubt a much lower cost than in TV where it’s private for each homeowner.
I think it would be wonderful if each CDD could contract with a licensed firm to cut each property. Cost could be based on approx lot size. Or one general charge for Premier, Designer, and Villa. Would be so much easier for most homeowners, especially snowbirds or owners renting homes.
It’s probably too late now that TV is so entrenched , but I feel the benefits would be awesome. Each homeowner done in each area. Less roads being blocked with many landscape trucks daily. Noise concentrated to only a part of one day per week. And no doubt lower costs for homeowners. Very efficient.

Why is it “awesome”? The cost is the cost—-you’ll pay it individually or in the amenities fee. BUT, I can complain to my guy and fire him if I want. I can also get someone else if his rate climbs too high. Does anyone think the CDD would do a better job of monitoring performance than the individual homeowner???

[Rwirish]

I mow my own lawn. Frankly a horrible idea imo.

[Kelevision]

Before TV I lived in a 55+ community near here, in Leesburg. I think there was 1,000 single family homes there. One lawn service company. $$$ cost was in monthly amenity fee. Was great. All grass in areas was cut and trimmed in one day. Very efficient. Done well and no doubt a much lower cost than in TV where it’s private for each homeowner.
I think it would be wonderful if each CDD could contract with a licensed firm to cut each property. Cost could be based on approx lot size. Or one general charge for Premier, Designer, and Villa. Would be so much easier for most homeowners, especially snowbirds or owners renting homes.
It’s probably too late now that TV is so entrenched , but I feel the benefits would be awesome. Each homeowner done in each area. Less roads being blocked with many landscape trucks daily. Noise concentrated to only a part of one day per week. And no doubt lower costs for homeowners. Very efficient.

Well, that’s probably great for a place with 1000 homes but there are over 70,000 homes in TV spread out over miles and 3 counties. Literally not possible. They can’t even do trash pickups on the same day.

[SeaCros]

Before TV I lived in a 55+ community near here, in Leesburg. I think there was 1,000 single family homes there. One lawn service company. $$$ cost was in monthly amenity fee. Was great. All grass in areas was cut and trimmed in one day. Very efficient. Done well and no doubt a much lower cost than in TV where it’s private for each homeowner.
I think it would be wonderful if each CDD could contract with a licensed firm to cut each property. Cost could be based on approx lot size. Or one general charge for Premier, Designer, and Villa. Would be so much easier for most homeowners, especially snowbirds or owners renting homes.
It’s probably too late now that TV is so entrenched , but I feel the benefits would be awesome. Each homeowner done in each area. Less roads being blocked with many landscape trucks daily. Noise concentrated to only a part of one day per week. And no doubt lower costs for homeowners. Very efficient.

Like everyone has said TV is too big to have one service to every lawn. It would be nice to have the same service do a street as there is someone always cutting all days of the week. It seems due to the many different services that are doing lawns they don’t take any care in their lawn care as they are just cutting and moving on to the next one. Also having those large mowers for the small spaces that leave large divots and tracks in the grass.
I like the idea of doing lawns together on a street and will ask my neighbors if that’s something they would like to do.

[Salty Dog]

I can't remember the last time every poster in a thread agreed (well disagreed)...

[thevillages2013]

I cut my own grass and usually in the rainy season every 4-5 days. No lawn service does that

[Rainger99]

I can't remember the last time every poster in a thread agreed (well disagreed)...

I have to agree with that!

The verdict is unanimous.

[TomPerry]

OP You are confusing HOA fees with Amenity fees ! You paid HOA fees. TV has 70,000 - 80,000 homes! Never going to happen! Thank god!

[ByebyeMichigan]

Ya, no……………

[Ptmcbriz]

I do my own because none of the previous services could do it as well. They continued to cut our St Augustine grass too short which puts it under stress. They were also reactive on chinch bugs instead of being proactive. My grass looks thick and fabulous.

[Regorp]

Lots of owners do their own lawns.

I wouldn't pay a nickel for Dean's or Massey to touch my lawn.

:icon_wink:

After 40 years of lawn maintenance, no way I waste my precious time in paradise cutting my lawn. I've earned the pleasure of letting the pro's of Dean's take care of my lawn. No storage for equipment anyway.

[midiwiz]

Before TV I lived in a 55+ community near here, in Leesburg. I think there was 1,000 single family homes there. One lawn service company. $$$ cost was in monthly amenity fee. Was great. All grass in areas was cut and trimmed in one day. Very efficient. Done well and no doubt a much lower cost than in TV where it’s private for each homeowner.
I think it would be wonderful if each CDD could contract with a licensed firm to cut each property. Cost could be based on approx lot size. Or one general charge for Premier, Designer, and Villa. Would be so much easier for most homeowners, especially snowbirds or owners renting homes.
It’s probably too late now that TV is so entrenched , but I feel the benefits would be awesome. Each homeowner done in each area. Less roads being blocked with many landscape trucks daily. Noise concentrated to only a part of one day per week. And no doubt lower costs for homeowners. Very efficient.

no thanks, that's the best way to spread weeds, unwanted grass types and more....

[Glowfromminnesota]

We have a robot lawnmower, but it took timed to program. I do understand what you are saying. In Minnesota we had a choice which garbage service to use before the city came in and contracted with one company. It was terrible before that. Everyday big garbage trucks would come in and tear up the roads, the noise, etc. Then the city contracted the service and just one garbage company on Tuesdays. I was very nice.

[StamperTV25]

Purchasing a new home in TV next week. I have had lawn service through our HOA for the past 7 years in the Bradenton area.....I will be doing my own after seeing what 3 different services have done. I can do a much better job and save a few bucks.

[shut the front door]

Before TV I lived in a 55+ community near here, in Leesburg. I think there was 1,000 single family homes there. One lawn service company. $$$ cost was in monthly amenity fee. Was great. All grass in areas was cut and trimmed in one day. Very efficient. Done well and no doubt a much lower cost than in TV where it’s private for each homeowner.
I think it would be wonderful if each CDD could contract with a licensed firm to cut each property. Cost could be based on approx lot size. Or one general charge for Premier, Designer, and Villa. Would be so much easier for most homeowners, especially snowbirds or owners renting homes.
It’s probably too late now that TV is so entrenched , but I feel the benefits would be awesome. Each homeowner done in each area. Less roads being blocked with many landscape trucks daily. Noise concentrated to only a part of one day per week. And no doubt lower costs for homeowners. Very efficient.

As stated above, I prefer to hire who I want to take care of my yard. I frequently see people recommend using the same mower that your neighbors use. Before you do that, take a close look at your neighbors yard. My neighbor only hires mowers. No fertilization, no weed control... He has bermuda sprouting up all through his back yard and when we had the same mower it got spread to my yard. I switched mowers and explained to the new mower why I switched. When my neighbor approached him about mowing his yard, he politely declined by saying he wasn't taking on new clients. He had my back!

[georgefloto]

Before moving here, 8 years ago, we lived in a gated community in Hudson. All lawn care, cutting grass, trimming bushes, mulching was taken care of one lawn service company same day of the week each week. Never had a problem with their service. Always done well. Cost was $100.00 per month collected by the homeowners Association. Currently that community is paying $125.00. I would be interested in a similar service here, but due to the varied opinions about this, it will never happen.

[juddfl]

It is less money to hire whom you want. I pay $50 per month and it is cut every week as compared to $125 per month in a gated community.

[GWilliams]

Before TV I lived in a 55+ community near here, in Leesburg. I think there was 1,000 single family homes there. One lawn service company. $$$ cost was in monthly amenity fee. Was great. All grass in areas was cut and trimmed in one day. Very efficient. Done well and no doubt a much lower cost than in TV where it’s private for each homeowner.
I think it would be wonderful if each CDD could contract with a licensed firm to cut each property. Cost could be based on approx lot size. Or one general charge for Premier, Designer, and Villa. Would be so much easier for most homeowners, especially snowbirds or owners renting homes.
It’s probably too late now that TV is so entrenched , but I feel the benefits would be awesome. Each homeowner done in each area. Less roads being blocked with many landscape trucks daily. Noise concentrated to only a part of one day per week. And no doubt lower costs for homeowners. Very efficient.

Rock garden and concrete. No need to charge me.

[mrf6969]

Presently pay $55.00 a month for a little larger than average lot and have had the same great company for 15 years now. If you let some government type group control this, the quality will go down and the price up.

[jimmy o]

Before TV I lived in a 55+ community near here, in Leesburg. I think there was 1,000 single family homes there. One lawn service company. $$$ cost was in monthly amenity fee. Was great. All grass in areas was cut and trimmed in one day. Very efficient. Done well and no doubt a much lower cost than in TV where it’s private for each homeowner.
I think it would be wonderful if each CDD could contract with a licensed firm to cut each property. Cost could be based on approx lot size. Or one general charge for Premier, Designer, and Villa. Would be so much easier for most homeowners, especially snowbirds or owners renting homes.
It’s probably too late now that TV is so entrenched , but I feel the benefits would be awesome. Each homeowner done in each area. Less roads being blocked with many landscape trucks daily. Noise concentrated to only a part of one day per week. And no doubt lower costs for homeowners. Very efficient.
Nice idea, but could never work. One person has trees and other person does it one person has bushes and other person doesn’,t way too many variables. Could never have a set price

[jimkerr]

No thank you. I prefer consumer choice.

[Whatnext]

108701

[jimhoward]

I have another house in another development in the Orlando area call Reunion resort. They include lawn maintenance in the amenities fee. They also include garbage pick up, hedge trimming including palm trees, they also include high speed internet and cable TV. It’s all great except the monthly fee almost $1000/mo. Paying for most things a la carte here ends up being way cheaper.

[MicRoDrafting]

We moved to Piedmont Village Jan of ‘24.
Unfortunately, learned Very Quickly that Nearly All Landscape Outfits are “Cut n Run” Single Service Only.

Which basically means they “Rip Thru” as Quickly as possible without concern for the health of the Lawn and overall appearance of the property.

AND to THINK this is a
GOLF COURSE Community !!

All my previous Landscape companies in So Florida not only Cut, Trimmed, and Blowed, but they also took care of maintaining the Landscape Beds, as well as the Fertilizer and Pest Control. And would also Inspect Irrigation system every few months … “Groundskeeping” is the term.

Needless to Say
we have just hired the 5th Company, and told they will “Maintain” our Grounds - One Stop Shopping !!

I actually take Great Pride in maintaining the vegetation in the Landscape Areas that I have created myself

[retiredguy123]

We moved to Piedmont Village Jan of ‘24.
Unfortunately, learned Very Quickly that Nearly All Landscape Outfits are “Cut n Run” Single Service Only.

Which basically means they “Rip Thru” as Quickly as possible without concern for the health of the Lawn and overall appearance of the property.

AND toTHINK this is a
GOLF COURSE Community !!

All my previous Landscape companies not only Cut, Trimmed, and Blowed, but also took care of maintaining the Landscape Beds, as well as the Fertilizer and Pest Control. And would also Inspect Irrigation system every few months … “Groundskeeping” is the term.

Needless to Say
we have just hired the 5th Company, and told they will “Maintain” our Grounds - One Stop Shopping !!

I maintain vegetation in
the Landscape Areas myself
As far as I know, there are no companies in The Villages who will do all of the things you mentioned. For awhile, Massey did everything, except weeding the shrubs. Then they stopped trimming the shrubs. If you know of a company that does everything, please post their name. And it is not Dean's because they do not do irrigation maintenance and repair.

[KenLee100]

Before TV I lived in a 55+ community near here, in Leesburg. I think there was 1,000 single family homes there. One lawn service company. $$$ cost was in monthly amenity fee. Was great. All grass in areas was cut and trimmed in one day. Very efficient. Done well and no doubt a much lower cost than in TV where it’s private for each homeowner.
I think it would be wonderful if each CDD could contract with a licensed firm to cut each property. Cost could be based on approx lot size. Or one general charge for Premier, Designer, and Villa. Would be so much easier for most homeowners, especially snowbirds or owners renting homes.
It’s probably too late now that TV is so entrenched , but I feel the benefits would be awesome. Each homeowner done in each area. Less roads being blocked with many landscape trucks daily. Noise concentrated to only a part of one day per week. And no doubt lower costs for homeowners. Very efficient.

Why reinvent the wheel? There is a cost to that, and guess what, you will be charged for it. Those communities are available to live in, go there.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

another newbie trying to change TV to be similar to from where they came?

People, adapt to where you live, and purchase where you have what you want. . .
Don't try to change / make TV something it is not. .

TV is an active outdoor lifestyle 55-over community without an HOA, because it's not condominium based. .
And if you want to go in with a bunch of your neighbors on a group contract for mowing services, go ahead and do it. .

Your request is perfect for getting your neighborhood together and do it yourself. . hence, be an active citizen and do it if that is what you want.

[retiredguy123]

To clarify, there are single family housing communities that are not condominiums, but they have an HOA that does contract to maintain the lawns, paint the houses, and replace the roofs. It can be done, but, apparently, many people in The Villages do not want it.

One issue I foresee is that the developer would be complicit in the hiring of undocumented workers to perform work on private property. They may not want the potential liability or illegality for doing this.

[Normal]

Before TV I lived in a 55+ community near here, in Leesburg. I think there was 1,000 single family homes there. One lawn service company. $$$ cost was in monthly amenity fee. Was great. All grass in areas was cut and trimmed in one day. Very efficient.

Thanks for the idea, but we would decline. 150,000 people relying on a single contract would be a disaster waiting to happen. Besides, I like to control my lawn my way. It occasionally gets cut on Labor Day, the 4th and Thanksgiving. As many have pointed out, the trash system doesn’t even work out well at times here. Can you imagine adding another system to the mix? Then there are the weeding, chinch bugs and fungus issues that have to be addressed for a nice lawn. I do appreciate ideas, and I don’t mind change, but I like things the way they are now. I don’t believe it would be efficient at all.

[CybrSage]

It is less money to hire whom you want. I pay $50 per month and it is cut every week as compared to $125 per month in a gated community.

What service do you use?

[Papa_lecki]

One issue I foresee is that the developer would be complicit in the hiring of undocumented workers to perform work on private property. They may not want the potential liability or illegality for doing this.

The developer would have nothing to do with hiring the workers - the CDD would.
And it’s up the to employer (the contracted company) to do I-9 compliance.

[retiredguy123]

The developer would have nothing to do with hiring the workers - the CDD would.
And it’s up the to employer (the contracted company) to do I-9 compliance.
I agree that the CDD, not the developer, may initiate the contracts. But, whoever initiates the contract would be complicit and potentially liable if a problem occurs with unoccupied workers on private property. It would be very difficult for them to claim ignorance and pass the liability on to a landscaping contractor. It is highly likely that the landscaping companies would hire undocumented workers.

[JMintzer]

We moved to Piedmont Village Jan of ‘24.
Unfortunately, learned Very Quickly that Nearly All Landscape Outfits are “Cut n Run” Single Service Only.

Which basically means they “Rip Thru” as Quickly as possible without concern for the health of the Lawn and overall appearance of the property.

AND to THINK this is a
GOLF COURSE Community !!

All my previous Landscape companies in So Florida not only Cut, Trimmed, and Blowed, but they also took care of maintaining the Landscape Beds, as well as the Fertilizer and Pest Control. And would also Inspect Irrigation system every few months … “Groundskeeping” is the term.

Needless to Say
we have just hired the 5th Company, and told they will “Maintain” our Grounds - One Stop Shopping !!

I actually take Great Pride in maintaining the vegetation in the Landscape Areas that I have created myself

What does "Being a golf course community" have to do with private homes?

[sunnyFLORIDA5828]

I’m the op. Read your responses. Yikes! I stand down. Stupid thought, that would not work here in the Villages.

Majority rules. Like 149,456 to one.

I’m beat.