New home questions

[Trish Crocker]

I think we are leaning toward the Lily but I have a couple of questions (actually, lots more than a couple but I'll save those for when we are actually able to buy)...if the lanai is expanded, is the bedroom stretched also or is it just a matter of making the cement pad and screen area larger? If it's just a matter of making the lanai itself bigger, is it possible to buy a new construction home (not pre-owned) and just having a few feet added to the existing lanai? (can you tell that all of this planning is just a diversion so I don't think about the fact that my house isn't selling and it's cold outside????)
Thanks friends, you're all helping me make it through and I can't wait to get there!!

[SgtJohn]

We are having a Lily built, If you stretch the lanai, you don't automatically get a bedroom stretch. You can, However, stretch the bedroom. In our case, we stretched the lanai by 4'4" and the bedroom, by 2'. That was the maximum amount they would allow us. We also stretched the garage out an additional 4'.

I hope that helps. Where are you building ?

[swimdawg]

I think we are leaning toward the Lily but I have a couple of questions (actually, lots more than a couple but I'll save those for when we are actually able to buy)...if the lanai is expanded, is the bedroom stretched also or is it just a matter of making the cement pad and screen area larger? If it's just a matter of making the lanai itself bigger, is it possible to buy a new construction home (not pre-owned) and just having a few feet added to the existing lanai? (can you tell that all of this planning is just a diversion so I don't think about the fact that my house isn't selling and it's cold outside????)
Thanks friends, you're all helping me make it through and I can't wait to get there!!

Trish...I have the Iris. I had the lanai expanded and it made no difference to the size of the bedroom. But....when you buy a new construction home....one that is already built....I think the concrete pad has been poured and " set in stone" so to speak. But if you build to your specs, you can make so many additions and changes. It's a fun process....a little stressful....but so worth it.

First things first....sell your house. Wait til after the holidays....then go for it! Good luck.....and stay warm!

[Trish Crocker]

Sgt, I have no idea, we still have to sell here in Michigan before we can even consider building..hopefully this will be our last Christmas here!! Thanks for the info. Are you doing all ceramic? Is it possible to put a hall closet in the foyer? Are you getting a golf car garage? (see...a million questions!) And Swimdawg..thank you, I'm really looking forward to it.

[Gongy]

We built a Lily 5 months ago and we added 4 feet to our Lanai, without changing the MBR. We also added 2 feet to the front bedroom, 4 feet to the side of the garage and 2 feet forward. We were going back and forth with the Lily and the Iris, we finally chose the Lily because we like the entrance better. I hope you get a buyer for your home, I know what you are going through.

[swimdawg]

I have no idea, we still have to sell here in Michigan before we can even consider building..hopefully this will be our last Christmas here!! Thanks for the info. Are you doing all ceramic? Is it possible to put a hall closet in the foyer? Are you getting a golf car garage? (see...a million questions!)

I did ceramic floors ..DIAGONAL....in kitchen, baths, laundry & halls. Closet in foyer, expanded garage with golf cart garage.

It's 20 degrees here in WNY today. I'll be in the Land 'o The Sun after the holidays!

[Jim 9922]

You want the lanai to be at least 12 feet wide. (Think a 5 - 6 foot round table with people sitting all around it).
Also make the garage as large as possible, deep and wide. Most cars are about 16 feet long so an 18 foot deep garage gives you no room front or back. Also make the cart garage deep enough for 2 carts. A standard cart approximates 4' X 8'. Even if you don't get 2 carts you will fill in the extra space with "stuff". Remember, no basements in TV! :)
Another tip, put in an extra wide garage door, I believe it is 18'. Well worth it.

[CarGuys]

We built a Lilac which is the frame version of the Iris.

We stretched the Lani back 4 feet and then had a extra 10 ft pad poured for a Bird Cage Total of 29 wide and 22.8 deep with 12.8 under roof.

The garage was stretched 4 feet forward and the front bedroom two feet to balance out the home.

You can print out your home from the Villages and picture what stretches would do.

Your lot determines the size of your expansions. I was able to stretch forward and aft but not side to side. So get your dreams and house size then you have to find the lot that works best for you.

We wanted a pasture view and no home across from the front view so we had to limit our home to make that work.

One thing my salesman and others told me was you can't have a big enough garage or Lani. The initial expense hurt but now we are now happy we listened and did it.

My neighbor called last night and said we can have dance parties now at the Forwards? Lucky Glen and Pat get to see our home go up and we get to watch the flakes fly here in Syracuse. They send us pics!

Merry Christmas Trish

Herv

[getdul981]

Stretch anywhere and everywhere you can. Instead of a golf cart garage, make it a third car garage, if you have the space on your lot and can afford it. I don't know how much more it would be over the golf cart, but if you can swing it, I know you will appreciate it later.

[JC and John]

Hello Trish and fellow Villagers, we will be building a Lily in Unit 177 in Sanibel possibly March. We are in the middle of selling our house and if all goes well will be down in TV by Feb 3rd. Anyway love all the comments about changes that can be made to the house. Gives us food for thought. We definitely will have a 3 car garage and will be adding an approx 9x12 concrete pad on the garage side off the lanai for a grill and additional seating. Not sure our lot will accomodate stretching the lanai. But have heard from others and our agent that stretch anyway you can and you won't regret it. Happy Holidays to all! JC

[graciegirl]

I think the advice to stretch anything you can afford to stretch on your new home is good advice. The extra space will help you with storage for one. Remember your garage is now your garage and your basement. (And maybe your art room too)

[mbikowski]

Happy Holidays. Hope to see you in February. We are building the Begonia right next to you.

Mike

[Yankee Quilter]

We cannot believe how much we are learning from these discussions! We are thinking about the Hammock, having changed from a Villa and are learning, from these discussions to ask the right questions to our rep!
First open house today - no expectations!! Keep all your words of knowledge coming!!!

[Yorio]

The stretch where you can is good but remember there is a restriction based on the size of the lot. This includes the lanai but bird cage is not considered a permanent strcuture and have little more of a leeway. This goes for the concrete pad as well. They are very strict about putting a ceiling for extended lanai as this will be considered a permanent structure.

[cherylncliff]

We built a Lily about a year ago (in Buttonwood). We had a lot that allowed the following stretches= Garage stretch 2 feet, lanai stretch 4 feet, retained the MBR and front bedroom as they were large already, added a golf cart garage and still had room in the back for a 9 ft birdcage the entire length of the lanai. I agree with the stretch what you can afford and have room for. If you think you want a birdcage, do it while building to avoid hassles later. For more storage, try to get the peaked roof rather than the one that looks like a pyramid since it gives you more head room in the storage space above the garage.

We sold our house in MI (Portage-near Kalamazoo) in July. Good luck with your sale!

[Jim 9922]

Another very important consideration when selecing a lot and home footprint is the exposure to the sun. If you like sun in the AM with breakfast, make sure that area faces east; want a cool afternoon lanai, face it east or north; want your deck warm for afternoon swims, face it south or west, etc. Your intended model has one of the better designs of the major living areas (windows or sliders on 3 sides) so your major rooms will be light most of the day long. Many models have "inside" living rooms/great room areas and basically depend on outside light from either end of the building. Inside brightness gets even worse if the home is facing the wrong way to catch the outside sunlight. We've been a few that end up as glorified caves! Hence the need for addition of solar tubes. Punching a hole on your ceiling for a solar tube in a general living area (not a closet, or laundry room, etc) is usually indication of a basic design error - and there are a lot of solar tubes in TV! So "design" for your sunlight carefully.
Personally, we love light, so we made sure our garage, bath and closets were on the north side of the home. and our general living areas follow the sun all day. :)

[CarGuys]

My salesman said we did good for sun position?

I did not understand at first nice explination.

Our Garage is facing North and the Lani and Living Area facing South,

So Sun should track across the back of the home correct?

[Jim 9922]

My salesman said we did good for sun position?

I did not understand at first nice explination.

Our Garage is facing North and the Lani and Living Area facing South,

So Sun should track across the back of the home correct?

Unless you are an owl or a vampire, you done good!! Let the sun shine in.

[getdul981]

I think the advice to stretch anything you can afford to stretch on your new home is good advice. The extra space will help you with storage for one. Remember your garage is now your garage and your basement. (And maybe your art room too)

Yep Gracie, our garage is going to by my "art" room. I just haven't found it yet. Soon though!!

[Tom Hannon]

The stretch where you can is good but remember there is a restriction based on the size of the lot. This includes the lanai but bird cage is not considered a permanent strcuture and have little more of a leeway. This goes for the concrete pad as well. They are very strict about putting a ceiling for extended lanai as this will be considered a permanent structure.

Hi Yori

A bird cage is not a permanent construction? HMMM. Does that mean I can extend on the back end of my property? I am 34 feet from Triggerfish and zoning say's I can't expand. If I can go out with a bird cage great. Something to consider.

[Happinow]

I believe our lot is situated so that the sun comes up and goes down side to side. So, we won't have direct sunlight coming in the front or back of our home. We thought of this as a positive even though we won't get direct sunlight on our pool. We think it should keep the house cooler since we are not use to the very warm weather, being from up north and all. Hope this works to our advantage. We think Florida is warm enough not to have direct sun coming into the house. We'll see once it's built.

[graciegirl]

This is our second west facing home. The first was built and we loved it and this one; there were only three lots left in Laurel Valley when we were ready to buy.

BUT...and please don't call me a cheerleader, BUT...the sun shines into our sliders for a couple of hours and that can be remedied by closing your vertical blinds...and at this time of the year, it is warmer to sit out there.

And the sunsets are gorgeous. I know who does those and that is NOT the Morses.

[Happinow]

This is our second west facing home. The first was built and we loved it and this one; there were only three lots left in Laurel Valley when we were ready to buy.

BUT...and please don't call me a cheerleader, BUT...the sun shines into our sliders for a couple of hours and that can be remedied by closing your vertical blinds...and at this time of the year, it is warmer to sit out there.

And the sunsets are gorgeous. I know who does those and that is NOT the Morses.


The beautiful sunsets over the golf course.....:):):)

[RichieB]

And the sunsets are gorgeous. I know who does those and that is NOT the Morses.

It's not ? :laugh:

[rodie]

This is our second west facing home. The first was built and we loved it and this one; there were only three lots left in Laurel Valley when we were ready to buy.

BUT...and please don't call me a cheerleader, BUT...the sun shines into our sliders for a couple of hours and that can be remedied by closing your vertical blinds...and at this time of the year, it is warmer to sit out there.

And the sunsets are gorgeous. I know who does those and that is NOT the Morses.

Gracie: we too are going to have a West facing lanai. Did you extend your lanai, and if so, to how many feet, to help with the deflecting of the sun into your house. Did you do anything else to help with the issue, we are just now starting to figure out our design. Thanks.

[graciegirl]

Gracie: we too are going to have a West facing lanai. Did you extend your lanai, and if so, to how many feet, to help with the deflecting of the sun into your house. Did you do anything else to help with the issue, we are just now starting to figure out our design. Thanks.

Our lanai is 12' wide. We so enjoy it.

[CarGuys]

Jim,

Thanks and after being in the dark for years! Thats called Syracuse NY I now see the light!

:1rotfl::1rotfl:

[HelenLCSW]

:a20:It's not ? :laugh: