Life Style Visit

[Posh 08]

I tried to book a life style visit for June today but they don't start booking yet. They also told me that they don't know when June reservations will be accepted. Anybody know from past experience when they open this up? I've got arrangements to make. :shrug:

[Northstar]

We also called recently but for July and were told the same thing.

[Posh 08]

...

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Posh, maybe try checking with your sales person (if you have one already) - they might be able to provide some leverage.....or at least get you some kind of answer. If you don't have a sales rep, there are any one of a number of them who members here have already vouched for - should be a quick phone call to get connected with one of them.

Or else just keep calling the 800 number periodically til someone can provide you with an answer. It does seem odd that they won't even give you some sort of timeframe for when they'll be taking bookings!

Bill :)

[njbchbum]

june/july bookings might not be ready for scheduling if the marketing staff does not yet have a handle on projected new and pre-owned housing inventory - might hafta wait for us snowbirds to fly north before a complete reconciliation can be done...then they will know what they want to include in the 2012 summer lifestyle preview pkg!

[golf2140]

Were FULL:boom:

[aljetmet]

We booked April LSV on 12/21 so that June is not yet available is a surprise.
There may be something to it that they have to figure out the inventory of available units.

See ya'll next month. How do I make my Crisper's reservation?

[Bill-n-Brillo]

...... How do I make my Crisper's reservation?

Nothing to do other than just show up on the appointed day/time! :pepper2:

Bill :)

[Mama C]

what does " crisper" mean?

[Bill-n-Brillo]

what does " crisper" mean?

Crispers is a local restaurant:

Crispers.com :: Fresh Salads, Soups & Sandwiches (http://www.crispersonline.com)

3551 Wedgewood Lane
The Villages, FL 32162

Bill :)

[lanabanana73]

I tried to book a life style visit for June today but they don't start booking yet. They also told me that they don't know when June reservations will be accepted. Anybody know from past experience when they open this up? I've got arrangements to make. :shrug:

I tried to make reservations for SEPTEMBER, and you can imagine they weren't taking those either! I guess they don't think too far ahead. I was amazed.

[graciegirl]

Crispers is a local restaurant:

Crispers.com :: Fresh Salads, Soups & Sandwiches (http://www.crispersonline.com)

3551 Wedgewood Lane
The Villages, FL 32162

Bill :)

And on the third Friday at three many of us who post on this forum show up at Crisper's outside patio to meet and greet and hug and welcome many of those who want to be met and greeted and be hugged and welcomed. It has NOTHING official to do with anyone who owns the forum. It was started by members here several years ago. The people who use to own the forum came once and the new owners haven't ever attended. It is just TOTV posters who gather.

[Posh 08]

Posh, maybe try checking with your sales person (if you have one already) - they might be able to provide some leverage.....or at least get you some kind of answer. If you don't have a sales rep, there are any one of a number of them who members here have already vouched for - should be a quick phone call to get connected with one of them.

Or else just keep calling the 800 number periodically til someone can provide you with an answer. It does seem odd that they won't even give you some sort of timeframe for when they'll be taking bookings!

Bill :)

Thanks Bill
I had emailed Cile my Sales guy's Assistant and it came back "out of office til Monday" so I used the chat with feature. When we decided our dates to come I wanted to "bookem" immediately. Ya'll remember that feeling. Anyway I'll wait to see what Cile says on Monday or maybe I will email Ron today. The next hurdle would be getting leave in June. Everybody wants that

[Ohiogirl]

Way back in 2006, we tried to book March with too short of notice - nothing available. They would not take our names for a waitlist in case of cancellation or give us much more info. We came anyway, stayed with friends and ended up buying (from Ohio by phone, because there was a waiting list for what we wanted).

Anyway, I noticed shortly after that, that they had changed the freebies, discounts, price, etc. of the Lifestyle visit. So - I agree with a previous poster that things are probably in flux about the next phase of the Lifestyle Preview visits.

Since Brownwood is only tentatively scheduled to open in the fall, doubt if this summer's visits will be down that way, but who knows - previously The Villages used the attached townhouse villas near Spanish Springs, then the Cottages at Lake Sumter, and then Creekside. They suddenly offered the row of designers along the multi-modal path on Buena Vista for sale, and also I think one street of the Cabanas, both of which sold very quickly, with multiple offers.

Everyone thought the Edgewater Bungalows were going to be the next Lifestyle visit area, then they also sold those (very quickly).

I think they sign their Property Management contracts with individual owners in May (my sister has had her house in their program for about 5 years), so maybe that is also what they are waiting for. I think they use the privately-owned homes in their program for overflow right now, but maybe if they are transitioning they will only use these in the summer before opening up a new lifestyle location near Brownwood this fall and perhaps offer for sale the rest of Creekside Cabanas. Or maybe that's what the next phase of Mission at Hacienda Hills is going to be - the Lifestyle Preview Homes. Only the Villages knows, and they seem to keep this info close to their vests until they make their announcements.

This is all just speculation - please don't go saying this is what's going to happen next, we are all in the dark and I think the Sales Associates are too.

[Posh 08]

Way back in 2006, we tried to book March with too short of notice - nothing available. They would not take our names for a waitlist in case of cancellation or give us much more info. We came anyway, stayed with friends and ended up buying (from Ohio by phone, because there was a waiting list for what we wanted).

Anyway, I noticed shortly after that, that they had changed the freebies, discounts, price, etc. of the Lifestyle visit. So - I agree with a previous poster that things are probably in flux about the next phase of the Lifestyle Preview visits.

Since Brownwood is only tentatively scheduled to open in the fall, doubt if this summer's visits will be down that way, but who knows - previously The Villages used the attached townhouse villas near Spanish Springs, then the Cottages at Lake Sumter, and then Creekside. They suddenly offered the row of designers along the multi-modal path on Buena Vista for sale, and also I think one street of the Cabanas, both of which sold very quickly, with multiple offers.

Everyone thought the Edgewater Bungalows were going to be the next Lifestyle visit area, then they also sold those (very quickly).

I think they sign their Property Management contracts with individual owners in May (my sister has had her house in their program for about 5 years), so maybe that is also what they are waiting for. I think they use the privately-owned homes in their program for overflow right now, but maybe if they are transitioning they will only use these in the summer before opening up a new lifestyle location near Brownwood this fall and perhaps offer for sale the rest of Creekside Cabanas. Or maybe that's what the next phase of Mission at Hacienda Hills is going to be - the Lifestyle Preview Homes. Only the Villages knows, and they seem to keep this info close to their vests until they make their announcements.

This is all just speculation - please don't go saying this is what's going to happen next, we are all in the dark and I think the Sales Associates are too.

Thanks. This makes sense. I just emailed Ron, maybe we'll get some info.

[gm1180]

I am very new in the process of looking at The Villages and hope to visit this year. Guess I need to start that process now. In reading this do I understand that they put you up in privately owned homes that are in some sort of program? If so is that a good investment opportunity for someone wishing to move there in a few years?

[Posh 08]

OK. My guy says they hope to know by the 1st or 2nd week in April what program is being offered. Soooooo, I'm going to roll the dice and put in for leave. My Sis is coming this trip. Miss Sam is booked up til Sept. We'll make the trip even if it means the WFI.

For now, I must get the corned beef going.

[Ohiogirl]

I am very new in the process of looking at The Villages and hope to visit this year. Guess I need to start that process now. In reading this do I understand that they put you up in privately owned homes that are in some sort of program? If so is that a good investment opportunity for someone wishing to move there in a few years?

The Villages periodically changes their Lifestyle preview plan accommodations. Currently they use Creekside Cabanas (except for the street they sold), the unsold Cottages at Lake Sumter, and private homes in their Property Management portfolio. I don't know how they make those assignments, not sure if you can request a private home or not. Previously, I don't think you were able to request a private home in a particular village or even general area, just found out what you got when you got here.

Maybe it was a good investment opportunity to buy and rent out for awhile when prices here and everywhere else in Florida were rising astronomically - they were still going up when my sister and I bought. I rented ours out for 4 years, using for vacations and maintenance weeks. I rented mine privately (using rental websites and repeat tenants). It's a lot of work doing it from a distance, even with local caretakers and cleaning services, and although a nice tax write-off for me, not for everyone.

My sister uses The Villages Prop Mgmt, and there are several other companies that do all the work for you - but you pay a substantial percentage of your rents for that (around 15-22%). They send you a monthly statement and I think check (or direct deposit probably) if applicable. If you're in The Villages program, your contract says you cannot use it at all Jan.-March, and the rest of the time, you have to pay $25/night (I think that is the current price) to stay in your own home while you are here, plus a cleaning fee when you leave.

Most "experts" feel it will take years for the real estate market to improve, although here in TV we haven't been hit nearly as hard as most of the rest of Florida and much of the country. Prices here or still at or slightly below where they were in early 2007, before the bust. I think more expensive stuff (resales, anyway) has been hurt more than the under $250,000 range. Just MO, haven't tracked this.

[Schaumburger]

what does " crisper" mean?

The third Friday of every month, there is a TOTV lunch at Crisper's restaurant for anyone from TOTV who wants to meet and mingle with the people who post on TOTV. And I am planning on being at the June TOTV lunch at Crispers as I will be in TV then. :pepper2:

[daca55]

I went to LSV in Nov 2011. I made my reservation but I didn't hear from them about arrangements until Sept. Hang in there. You will hear from them. Call a sales agent if you aren't comfortable waiting.:wave:

[Posh 08]

I went to LSV in Nov 2011. I made my reservation but I didn't hear from them about arrangements until Sept. Hang in there. You will hear from them. Call a sales agent if you aren't comfortable waiting.:wave:

I have been in touch with my sales folks. They will alert me when bookings open up. All is well.

[njbchbum]

I have been in touch with my sales folks. They will alert me when bookings open up. All is well.

happy to hear that it is going to work out for ya! sales folks can do some pretty nifty things! enjoy the visit!

[Posh 08]

LSVs are now open for June. Sis and I are booked. Hope to see some of yall.

[gm1180]

I received a call last week that the summer visits would open up today 4/10 at 9am est. I called this AM a couple minutes after 9 and was told they are not ready to take calls yet. Left my number and now waiting for a call back. We only have three short weeks we can take this summer as we are still both working...I just hope one of them will be available!

[Posh 08]

I received a call last week that the summer visits would open up today 4/10 at 9am est. I called this AM a couple minutes after 9 and was told they are not ready to take calls yet. Left my number and now waiting for a call back. We only have three short weeks we can take this summer as we are still both working...I just hope one of them will be available!

If you are working with a sales person, email their asst. Works like a charm.

[gm1180]

Sadly, we have not established a sales person contact yet.

[Posh 08]

Sadly, we have not established a sales person contact yet.

Hopefully you got it booked.

[gm1180]

We are now booked for a few days in the second week in August. Looking forward to seeing what this place is all about in person!

[OldDave]

I got a call this afternoon from Linda saying they were open June-Sept for reservations now.

[Posh 08]

We are now booked for a few days in the second week in August. Looking forward to seeing what this place is all about in person!

So far we've done nothing but plan meals. Lol we'll need those bicycles to work that off. Glad you made it. Enjoy.