[Cateca]

Will be closing on Calumet Grove home SOON. I now live 2,000 miles away and need to hear comments about best insurance agency, installation of lightning protector. gas or electric golf cart, etc. Babe in the woods at this end. Any suggestions. Thanks

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California, Spain, Puerto Rico, St John USVI

[Snowbird]

We are on our second home in TV now and have formed opinions on the topics you mentioned. We got our insurance from the Village Insurance Company who have several offices in TV. They issue ASI policies, up north I use USAA, they are not taking any new homes in Florida unless you get there on military orders, USAA also recommended ASI. I would not recommend lightning rods, who wants to attract lightning!? I have seen homes with lightning rods burn to the ground after being struck. SECO, the electric coop does install whole house surge protectors, which will help with power surges but not direct hits. I'd recommend getting this installed on your new home. Finally on golf carts, we went with electric, no smell, no noise and a 60 mile per day range gets you everywhere you want to go. Of course, others will have different opinions, just depends on your preferences. We rented both electric and gas carts before we made our final decision. Hope this helps some, good luck with your move and welcome to TV!!

[SteveFromNY]

We did use The Villages Insurance wh issed an ASI policy when we bought in 2005.
We have a gas cart as I have a fear of either running out of juice, or being stuck at home because I need to finish charging!
We also have a lightning protection system. If you look around TV you will see many homes and other buildings with these systems, including the fire hous on Buena Vista.
Sowe agree on 1 out of 3 anyway!
I'd suggest doing some searches as these topics have been covered a lot over the last few years and there's lots of info out here.

[actor]

They do not increase or decrease your chances of being hit. They provide a safe path for the lightning to go to ground. Look around the villages. The Waterfront Inn has an lps, as do many of the village owned buildings. I guess that improperly installed rods could result in a house being damaged. If you go with a company that has the system certified by UL, it provides great protection. I just had our house done and I'm glad I did.

[bluedog103]

Originally Posted by actor

They do not increase or decrease your chances of being hit. They provide a safe path for the lightning to go to ground. Look around the villages. The Waterfront Inn has an lps, as do many of the village owned buildings. I guess that improperly installed rods could result in a house being damaged. If you go with a company that has the system certified by UL, it provides great protection. I just had our house done and I'm glad I did.

Interesting info. Do you recall the approximate cost for a lps? I know absolutely nothing about these systems. I don't know if you're talking hundreds or thousands of dollars so any info would be great. Thanks

[ijusluvit]

Let me be a "second opinion" to Snowbird on the matter of lightning protection. In recent years in The Villages alone, seven homes have been completely destroyed by lightning strikes. None had lightning rod protection systems. The important thing about most Villages homes is that they have gas lines in the attic, which can ignite and explode in minutes after a small fire is started by a lightning charge. There is absolutely no evidence out there that properly installed lightning rods might increase the possibility of lightning damage, nor have I ever heard of any home with lightning rods that was badly damaged.

A convenient place to get some good factual information in the POA. That's the Property Owners Association in The Villages. They are independent and objective in their informative monthly newsletter. Just got to:

www.ccfj.net/POABull.html

Good luck on your new adventure. Virtually all of us here think you are making a brilliant decision and we welcome you!

[pooh]

I've got USAA insurance, have had it forever....bought our house before the company stopped issuing to new homeowners.

Just had lightning rods installed on my house. They do not attract lightning, but do provide a path to the ground. If you decide to have them installed, there are three companies that are recommended by The Study Group on Lightning. I used Advanced Lightning Protection and today the UL inspector was out to do a final check and issue the Underwriters Laboratories certificate. A number of owners on our street decided to have lightning protection installed. Do you need it? You might, you might not, but with the amount of spectacular electrical activity in the area, hubby and I decided we'd have protection.

Golf carts, well, we wanted electric. They're quiet and do not give off exhaust fumes. Others prefer gas because of the range. You'll have to decide when you get here. Believe me, there are lots of carts to try out and deciding which one you want could take a little time...

Snowbird recommended the SECO whole house surge protector. We've got one and an additional one installed by the lightning protection company. Your house may already have the SECO installation....ask. Ours from SECO is rented, but I do believe you can purchase them from the company.

Did I say welcome? WELCOME! You're going to love it here.

[pooh]

Originally Posted by bluedog103

Interesting info. Do you recall the approximate cost for a lps? I know absolutely nothing about these systems. I don't know if you're talking hundreds or thousands of dollars so any info would be great. Thanks

I just paid about $1500 plus another fee of $325 for the UL inspection and certificate. My home was a bit more than some of the others done in the neighborhood because I needed 5 additional rods on my "cage." Since the company did so many homes on our street, he offered a small discount. The actual cost of doing your home depends upon its size, number of rods needed, the size of your cage if you have one, whether you want a UL inspection or not.

[bluedog103]

Thanks Pooh, sounds like a good investment.

[kit9240]

I am buying a house that has lightning rods. Had a bldg inspection but they are not covered. Do you have to have them checked once a year? Can they be removed if I choose not to have? I am planning to have them evaluated, but wanted to know how this works. Thanks

[graciegirl]

All these posts are informative and we do live in the Lighning Capital of the U.S. I have not decided whether it would help to have lightning rods installed.

At this point we are considering having a one iron installed facing skyward at the peak of our roof. Not even God can hit a one iron.

I think maybe saying your beads might help too.

[/QUOTE]Finally on golf carts, we went with electric, no smell, no noise and a 60 mile per day range gets you everywhere you want to go. Of course, others will have different opinions, just depends on your preferences. We rented both electric and gas carts before we made our final decision. Hope this helps some, good luck with your move and welcome to TV!![/QUOTE]

What kind of cart gets you 60 miles? I also have electric and love it.The only drawback is I was told I'd get 60 miles ..but I get more like 45!!