We found a house. Yea!
 

I have been lurking on this site off and on for years.
Finally came down last year for three months and decided we would make this our future home. With all the info from all of you we felt well armed. We narrowed it down to three resales and was able to negotiate with much back and forth and got our first choice.
So as of March 11 we will own two houses one in Tamarind Grove and one in Seattle. It is a Lily with a golf cart garage looking at water so a private lot which was our #1 must have as I am a loud talker and didn't want to feel I was in another persons space.
It will sit empty till we sell our house in Seattle maybe even a little longer as we don't think we would come down in the summer. All suggestions for my check list of what to do are greatly appreciated.

You guys are great
Trudy and Larry

First, congrats on your purchase. You purchased in a great area.

First, hire a good lawn company. If the lawn looks good now, go with whomever the previous owners used. Next choice is whatever company neighbors use. If neither of these choices seem to work for you, I highly recommend Chad's Lawn Service,

Get a pest control company. Some lawn companies will do the lawns, some won't but you'll still need interior pest control. Dean's and Massey's both do excellent jobs, so just hire the best price.

Hold off on upgrades until you're sure what you want. Be sure to check seniors against crimes before hiring anyone, even if recommended by a friend or neighbor.

When here, remember to schedule some down time. It really is possible to do too much in the beginning. Do have a neighborhood get together to meet your neighbors.

And, welcome to TV!

Do you have a phone number for Chad's Lawn Service? My contract with Service Smart (Stellar) is up in a few months and I may be looking for a new lawn company.

Congratulations Trudy on your new home!

How often is it necessary for a pest control company to come out? I'm sure they would love monthly treatments, but is that necessary? I assume they spray inside or out. We will be moving down the second week of February and that is one of the first things I need to take care of.

Congratulations Trudy!

Most companies will come out 2-4 times per year. Our applications are always on the exterior of the home. We have not had an interior application in the 3 years we have owned our home.

You only need interior spray if bugs come visiting. Ants are the biggest culprits. Monthly is usually for lawn treatment and that's usually herbicides, not pesticides.

Welcome Trudy!

Trudy,:welcome: I've been reading your messages for years. Redwitch is the person who can coordinate all of the details mentioned and be your home watch person as well. She comes highly recommended.

welcome to the villages, Chads number is3527878303. He does a great job and is easy to get along with

Interior only did not work for us. We had ants in our house and Massey sprayed inside and baited. It did not work until they did the perimeter outside spray. They did that every 3 months and never had to come in the house and spray again.

There is a contract on ours with Deans
 

I got a bit with our contract for sale that said Deans had been treating our new home I assumed that was termite protection. So are you saying I need to treat the lawn for bugs? I didn't know that. Also they had planted a new tangelo still has the tags on it from home depot. the upper leaves are curled and have holes does that mean it needs a spray or something? I was thinking Jobes citrus spikes as a fertilizer I seem to remember my dad using them but maybe they need a bug spray of something?
Trudy

Curled leaves are usually a sign of a fungus or insects or insufficient water. You can always take a leaf or two to the mastering garden clinic and they can help you out. Only use the spike fertilizers when the leaves begin to fade in color.

And, yes, our lawns are very prone to insects -- fire ants, chinch bugs, army worms and who knows what else.

Call deans they do lawn termites mowing weeding and trees and bushes if you need it. One stop shopping one bill and pay as work is done. If there is a problem out same day with a phone call while they are there

Welcome Trudy and Larry. I KNEW you'd find just what you wanted.

I hope that you quickly sell your other home and join us.

May I suggest Redwitch or BkCunningham as your homewatch persons? They are both honest and will watch out for you and be able to answer or fix certain things.

Welcome Home! Yes, great location. Congratulations.

Where does one find the master garden clinic? Is it a once in awhile thing?

Congrats. Best wishes as you start living the dream. :smiley:

Follow Red's suggestions.

I like to emphasize that you better off to get things accomplished over a period of time as opposed to feeling like you have to get them done in two weeks. That will exhaust you.

I also like to say that ideas of what you want to do with decorating will come to you, over a period of time. I know several people who wanted things to be done immediately and then saw a better way after they looked around for a while resulting in a waste of time and effort, not to mention money.

I know you have been looking forward to the move for a long time. so welcome. :smiley:

Ditto. Even when bugs come visiting, it's usually because they came in on HisBigHairySelf--the dog, not the husband--or we left the door open, or someone near is digging up their property, or we hosed the lanai & opened the screens. Stellar, and now Fertigator, start with spraying the outside and only come inside if that doesn't do the trick. Which has never been necessary.

Do get a house watch company. PM Barefoot, she loves hers and has been using them for 7 years or so. Or use Redwitch, whom others like.

Home watch
 

I also would like to suggest a home watch for your new home. I use Charlene from the village sitter (267)481-0588. Charlene was my third home watch person. I had to let the other two go one due to issues of things missing from the house and the other one we made a surprise visit and no one had been in my house for weeks. It's very difficult to be far away from my home and not know what's going on. Charlene goes to my house runs my sprinkle system checks the lawn, runs my dishwasher, checks the refrigerator, looks for bugs and other issues. That's every week. If there is. Problem she calls me and emails me. She has found issues that the home inspector missed. She has even contacted me about my neighbors lawn to let them know their lawn was dying due to no water. (They were very grateful and changed their home watch company also). She changes her routine of the time she comes,and never has any signage on her car. She is like family to us. Pm me if you have questions.

I have heard many good reports about Charlene.

Trudy,

Congratulation on purchasing a house in TV. It gives me hope when a long time wannabee makes the leap to becoming a Villager. Enjoy many great times in your new home! :wave: