The two upgrades I have been the most happiest with was replacing the carpeting with hard wood floors and having a whole house water filtration system. When I had the water system install, the installer told me that I would not have to change my refrigerator water filter anymore. To be honest I didn't believe him, but he was right I never changed the frig filter again and it has been years. I also agree with a previous poster, make the changes you truly believe you want done when you first walk in and this rest do over time, get a feel for the house first.

check out your bond fees and your taxes.

Beer Fridge
 

Beer fridge for the lanai. It may be the most important improvement in the home and would be used after each of the other jobs listed.

Solar Light Tubes in kitchen, bathrooms, closets and utility room. Big Plus

Under cabinet lighting in kitchen. Kitchen cupboard pullouts. Door pulls (knobs/handles) on kitchen cupboards. Get a Nova water filter vs softener. Paint lanai floor if not already tiled. Lots of cosmetic stuff you can spend money on that adds a lot - such as crown molding, granite counters, etc. Have fun.

Well said. These things are not always needed. For example, I’ve lived in two homes in The Villages, and neither one has or needs a water softener, and the water tastes good. (Not all water here is the same.) Epoxy on a garage floor is a luxury, not a necessity. The same goes for the driveway. A pool may cost you $100,000 to put in these days. There are already a lot of barely used beautiful public pools here, including near you. I had a lovely pool for two years, barely used it, and cleaning and repairs cost me about $200 a month. Extra insulation is nice, but my electric bill averages about $100 a month, so I’m not sure if it would cut my bill by much. I love my whole house luxury vinyl planking, but I was replacing badly worn cheap ten year old carpet. It cost me $14,000.

Consider your list of changes mostly if they are things you really want and can afford with ease. Don’t do them to make the house worth more. My sense is that they may make it easier to sell a house, may make your house more desirable, but they don’t necessarily make it sell for much more. Don’t expect to get your money back. Part of it, maybe. House prices tend to be set by comparable sales in the area based on square footage.

We replaced all the new appliances with models/brands we wanted….like 5-burner range, smart refrigerator with glass door etc. We also had cabinets/drawers installed in both master closets. We had a landscape designer from nursery design and install new landscaping, including 5 palm trees. Put in plantation shutters throughout house. Put in a pool and summer kitchen $175K.

Donuts around sprinkler heads.

Sounds crazy. You dont "need" any of that. You may "want" some of that. Live in it for awhile and then see what you really "need and want", otherwise you are just throwing your money away to be "just like the Joneses".

I would add adjustable light kits to the ceiling fans

We have Nova water softener with potassium, about a bag a month.

I applaud you for doing everything upfront (assuming money isn't an issue). When we built our retirement home up north 11 years ago, we did everything when we built it, feeling that we didn't want to be doing remodeling projects once we were retired. That proved to be the correct choice for us.

Previous responses have given you a pretty complete list as far as I can tell. I have just a few comments.

1. Although I'd like to have combination fans here, the fan is on one switch (with a pull chain on the fan as well). So without having separate switches, it's cumbersome when you want the light off and the fan on, etc. Having recessed lighting installed in all the areas where there aren't already cans would be the ideal solution, I think.

2. Painting your driveway. You definitely want to do this, including all areas of concrete: driveway, lanai, any added concrete, sidewalks along the side of the house. You're building a veranda; you should have that feature as well. Painted concrete is so much easier to clean than plain concrete; you'll notice that on your lanai.

3. We have a Nova filter here. Some people have full water softener systems; some have nothing. That's a personal preference. However, what your sales rep told you about softeners creating clear ice cubes is not right. A quick Google search will tell you that there's a lot of factors that go into getting clear ice cubes, and a water softener may or may not influence that.

4. Get rid of all the carpeting right away. Builders grade does not hold up over the long term, plus it's pretty much out of style. Do the flooring of your choice all over the house, then replace the baseboard and paint.

Enjoy your new home, once you get it exactly the way you want it!

New home
 

Nothing is a must have, but the top 3 to do first are your #2, 4, and 6. Move in then get a better idea of all the rest. Take your time to do it right .

I would move into the home -- you may decide that your long list is not really a priority. You may find other priorities. In reviewing the previous responses, people recommended various upgrades which may not be important to you and your lifestyle.

Nova
 

We have Nova filters, water softener, and their RO (reverse osmosis) system for the refrigerator. Our ice cubes are clear. Our water measures 15 grains of hardness which is very hard. (get a kit on Amazon to measure). Now it measures 0 grains. When we moved in our home was ~10 years old. Heavy calcium deposits in the toilets, sinks, around the faucets etc. What a mess to clean up. The filter/softener system took care of that. If you want to see our setup pm me. Oh and the electric hot water heater was a mess inside with the heater elements completely enclosed in calcium. We replaced that too.

Another vote for Nova