My buying experience with TV

[batman911]

Just returned home to Hawaii after several days visiting TV. This was our fourth visit (had 3 previous LSVs). We rented a home through TVPM. All went well. Home was nice and clean with a beautiful view of a large pond and golf course (street name was Inner Circle). After looking at homes for several years we finally decided on an Ivy model. Needed an extra large lot on a golf course because of the GC garage, bump outs, stretches through the middle, lanai and room for a 22' deep bird cage. Our sales agent found the lot we needed so we placed the deposit on it. First available design appointment is in late December. Earliest construction start is sometime in March 2013. I found none of the limitations on construction that have been mentioned on previous post. We ask to delete one of the four bedrooms to make a super large MBR closet and enlarge the remaining two bedrooms, no problem. We asked to move the washer, dryer, and deep sink into the garage, no problem. Our sales agent even provided a plot drawing of how the house would fit on the lot and a drawing of the altered floor plan we requested, all in one day. Finding the extra large lot allows us to get a designer instead of a premier and save on the bond cost. The lot is on Amherst Way on the Bonifay GC. So far, everything we have asked to change has been approved. I can only hope that continues through the design appointment. Our sales agent is Jeannie Ulmer. Since I have only dealt with her, I cannot evaluate how other agents compare but I do believe your sales agent, and their working relationship with management, has a lot to do with how many changes you are allowed to make. Every facet of our dealings with TV has been professional, competent and customer friendly. Nothing negative to report to this point. I will continue to post as we progress through the system.

[villages07]

Batman,

Congrats on your purchase! Sounds like everything went very well. The only thing that surprised me were the dates for earliest design and earliest construction. If someone wants a new house and to customize it, sounds like they will have to be prepared to wait. Used to be from signing contract to completion was about 60-75 days.

[cgalloway6]

Which lot is it?

[batman911]

which lot is it?

209-21

[cgalloway6]

209-21
That really is a big lot - larger than many of the premier lots in Pinellas. Lower bond to boot. Congrats.

[hotrodgirl]

Hello batman. I am 4 lots down (up) from you on 25. My meeting is in Sept. And I am also stretching, bumping, changing, etc., with a Lantana! Will not have a firm start date until after my design meeting, though I do not believe it is quite as long a time as yours. I also have experienced no problems and have a wonderful agent (Kathy Ward). All thumbs up so far! I look forward to making your acquaintance!

[batman911]

Hello batman. I am 4 lots down (up) from you on 25. My meeting is in Sept. And I am also stretching, bumping, changing, etc., with a Lantana! Will not have a firm start date until after my design meeting, though I do not believe it is quite as long a time as yours. I also have experienced no problems and have a wonderful agent (Kathy Ward). All thumbs up so far! I look forward to making your acquaintance!

We will be back in TV in December for our design consult. Hope to meet some of our new neighbors then. We may be one of the last built in our area. I saw SOLD signs on all the lots around us.

[CalcTeacher]

Batman: we are also on Amherst on the golf course...we are lot 32. We also bought an Ivy! Our design meeting is mid-September!

[batman911]

Batman: we are also on Amherst on the golf course...we are lot 32. We also bought an Ivy! Our design meeting is mid-September!

Congrats on you purchase. Maybe we can get some pointers from you after your design consult. Lots of decisions to be made in our future.

[asianthree]

so much done in short amount of time good job

[FMF Doc]

Hello batman. I am 4 lots down (up) from you on 25. My meeting is in Sept. And I am also stretching, bumping, changing, etc., with a Lantana! Will not have a firm start date until after my design meeting, though I do not believe it is quite as long a time as yours. I also have experienced no problems and have a wonderful agent (Kathy Ward). All thumbs up so far! I look forward to making your acquaintance!

Kathy Ward is great!

[aljetmet]

Congrats Batman, I think it speaks volumes that Hawaiian inhabitants are moving to Florida. TV has big appeal as we all know!
We'll be designing end of November and was expecting that the build would start just about immediately thereafter. We'll find out.

Out lot is in 208 and think your neighborhood pool is closer to us than the Fernandina one. Beware Gilchristians!

Good luck!!

[WVMtnBoy]

Welcome all new Gilchristers!!! Looks like we have two homes completed right across from tus but unoccupied. The footers for the home directly behind us have been excavated and we met friends of the owners tonight. I have a feeling that this neighborhood is going to be a great one! Anyone coming down for a design meeting, please contact us! Can't wait to meet everyone. Also, continuing pics of our home construction is under a different thread. You're going to be amazed how fast these homes go up!

Rusty & Janice

[Schaumburger]

batman, Sounds like your plan is coming together very well. Congratulations.

[jackz]

Congrats on your purchase.

It will be good to have someone from Honolulu nearby. We lived there for 12 years, and I graduated from Chaminade University in Honolulu .

Although we will be in Sanibel, I'm sure we could easily join you for Pupu's and Happy Hour at Bonifay.

Aloha

Jack

[2BNTV]

It speaks volumes to me if one is moving form Hawaii to TV as the weather in Hawaii is beautiful. TV must be doing something right. :smiley:

Congrats on your new home purchase. It sounds like you knew exactly what you wanted.


Best wishes as you start living the dream.

[graciegirl]

I think it speaks volumes too that people are moving from West Palm Beach and Boca Raton, very desired areas.

We have met several lately from West Palm and Boca.

We moved from Cincinnati.

This place HAS to be great if we left the center of the universe for here. ;)

[hotrodgirl]

Welcome all new Gilchristers!!! Looks like we have two homes completed right across from tus but unoccupied. The footers for the home directly behind us have been excavated and we met friends of the owners tonight. I have a feeling that this neighborhood is going to be a great one! Anyone coming down for a design meeting, please contact us! Can't wait to meet everyone. Also, continuing pics of our home construction is under a different thread. You're going to be amazed how fast these homes go up!

Rusty & Janice

Rusty and Janice! I would love to meet up with you this Sept when I am in for my design team meeting. Will your place be complete? And will you be there? I will be in from the 5th thru 9th. Hopefully I will be closing sometime in December? Not sure yet.... FYI-I was in Morgantown visiting friends last year!
Carol

[Disneychix]

Batman,
Happy you had a great experience with The Villages Hometown Property Management. I like to hear positive things about small business owners because if we drive them out we will not have many choices. The big box stores and national real estate co. and big banks etc. who have put the little guy out of business who was doing his best to try to make a living. We hear way too many negative statements and people take positive experiences for granted...koodos to you and welcome to The Villages with your positive attitude and great wishes on your new home.

[sukismom]

Jeannie Ulmer is the BEST! Bought our home in 2007 she handled everything long distance for us.

[graciegirl]

Batman,
Happy you had a great experience with The Villages Hometown Property Management. I like to hear positive things about small business owners because if we drive them out we will not have many choices. The big box stores and national real estate co. and big banks etc. who have put the little guy out of business who was doing his best to try to make a living. We hear way too many negative statements and people take positive experiences for granted...koodos to you and welcome to The Villages with your positive attitude and great wishes on your new home.


I like BIG business and little business. If you do it right you will succeed and your little business will become a big business. I love that I have lived long enough to see that happen...many times.

Just sayin.

[buzzy]

I think it speaks volumes too that people are moving from West Palm Beach and Boca Raton, very desired areas.

We have met several lately from West Palm and Boca.

We moved from Cincinnati.

This place HAS to be great if we left the center of the universe for here. ;)

We're coming up from a North Palm Beach waterfront condo. Almost full-time now. After 19 years of condo restrictions and nasty neighbors, The Villages is like heaven.

[2BNTV]

I think it speaks volumes too that people are moving from West Palm Beach and Boca Raton, very desired areas.

We have met several lately from West Palm and Boca.

We moved from Cincinnati.

This place HAS to be great if we left the center of the universe for here. ;)

This place is the center of my universe. :smiley:

[batman911]

Congrats on your purchase.

It will be good to have someone from Honolulu nearby. We lived there for 12 years, and I graduated from Chaminade University in Honolulu .

Although we will be in Sanibel, I'm sure we could easily join you for Pupu's and Happy Hour at Bonifay.

Aloha

Jack

Looking forward to meeting you. I'm bringing my Aloha shirts in case we find a luau. I definitely need to shop for winter clothes since I have lived in Hawaii since 67. Our sales agent thinks it odd that we take off our shoes before entering the model homes :).

[jackz]

Looking forward to meeting you. I'm bringing my Aloha shirts in case we find a luau. I definitely need to shop for winter clothes since I have lived in Hawaii since 67. Our sales agent thinks it odd that we take off our shoes before entering the model homes :).

Aloha shirts will fit in. Also, if your wife is into it there are Hula groups in TV.

[skyc6]

Batman,
Happy you had a great experience with The Villages Hometown Property Management. I like to hear positive things about small business owners because if we drive them out we will not have many choices. The big box stores and national real estate co. and big banks etc. who have put the little guy out of business who was doing his best to try to make a living. We hear way too many negative statements and people take positive experiences for granted...koodos to you and welcome to The Villages with your positive attitude and great wishes on your new home.

I could not agree with you more! The # 1 reason small businesses succeed over big businesses, is great customer service! I love to hear great things about businesses that have treated people fairly and honestly and have achieved a measure of success because of it.
Of course, there are big businesses who have good customer service and treat people fairly also. I like to hear about these , too.
Sounds like VHPM has about a 50% rate of good customer service, and 50% rate of poor customer service, and unfortunately that is not good enough to compete with anyone. No one wants to land in the wrong 50%!!

[Moderator]

Reminder.... let's stay on topic. Topic here is one member's buying experience. There is a long, separate thread to discuss Hometown Property Management rentals.

Thanks... Moderator

[Bigben007]

Jack

My daughter just graduated from the University of Dayton and did a semester at the U of Chaminade. She loved it! Don't know if she learned much there except she became an

[batman911]

Took these photos from our lot in Gilchrist. Took a 360 degree panorama. Not sure the link will work.


Snapfish: Share:Registration (http://www2.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=4810403022/a=151645615_151645615/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/)

[CalcTeacher]

Batman (aka future neighbor): Lot looks awesome! We think it is so picturesque there! We are up the street from you (lot 32)--when we look at the golf course, we look at all those palm trees and can see the side of the golf cart "bridge".

Keep the pictures coming!

[thenumber1crab]

My husband and I pestered our realtor Lori Simon for four years before we finally bought a lot. She was always happy to hear from us even though we were not "for sure/right now" buyers. Pam Sherwood was able to cobble together a "Zintana" for us. Front Lantana, back Zinnia with the third full bath and super stretched extended garage. We had a bunch of other odd changes and she was very patient with us. Excellent experience.

[mrdarcy]

Dear Number1crab, I sent you a PM. Please let me hear more about your design experience, namely being able to combine the best features of 2 similar plans. My real name is Chris.

[hotrodgirl]

Wow! I have been away on vacation and came back (again) to this thread. Marvin, thanks for the pictures as I have not even seen my lot yet (25)! So I am just 4 north from you and very near CalcTeacher as well! It's good to hear from future neighbors! I will be leaving in less than 2 weeks for my design meeting and will gladly take some more pictures and share! Someone mentioned building a zintana, which is essentially what I am doing as well! Lots to dish about for sure! I have a very busy 5 days planned Nd will be happy to share the experience!

[batman911]

Wow! I have been away on vacation and came back (again) to this thread. Marvin, thanks for the pictures as I have not even seen my lot yet (25)! So I am just 4 north from you and very near CalcTeacher as well! It's good to hear from future neighbors! I will be leaving in less than 2 weeks for my design meeting and will gladly take some more pictures and share! Someone mentioned building a zintana, which is essentially what I am doing as well! Lots to dish about for sure! I have a very busy 5 days planned Nd will be happy to share the experience!

Sent you a PM.