Additional Expenses of a New TV Home
 

If you bought a new home in TV, what other expenses did you feel you needed in the house immediately ?

Garage insulation, solar tubes, landscaping?

Visiting in April and may buy in Fenney. Want to make sure we don't max out the house and not have enough to do other things

Thanks

Additional Expenses of a New TV Home
 

You don’t need to do anything. But if you feel the need to, wait at least one year. You’ll be amazed what you thought to be a good idea 6 months ago now feels like...what was I thinking ? Bottom line, keep your wallet closed until your wants become a real need.




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You will need blinds and/or shades for privacy and to keep out the sun.
Ceiling fans for your comfort and to keep down utility costs so you can keep your thermostat a little higher.
If you are seriously energy conscious, a higher rated SEER on your A/C system; it pays over the long haul.
Get a credit on items you really don't want and/or upgrade on things you really do want.
Good luck and happy shopping!

Additional Expenses of a New TV Home
 

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Get rid of all carpeting, install either laminate or hard wood

Almost everyone spends about another 10K on new homes after purchase. You need blinds, washer and dryer, attic stairs, landscaping, probably some rooms painted, and more. Some want to do epoxy on the garage floor before anything is in it. Different things done by different folks, but almost everyone spends at least another 10K.

And most of those things are already done with a resale. When you look at the bond difference and the cost of what you have to add to a new home, resales become a better value.

In reality if you purchase a completed house what you spend after you purchase your home is optional. Some people will tell you that you have to have a water filter/softener system, solar tubes, driveway treatments, etc. but you don't. We have done many many things since we moved here and if we had to do it over we would spend more money on our lot (view or privacy) and stretch our house. Those things you can't change later. I would sacrifice every upgrade the builder offers for those things if needed. We retired and moved here directly with no experience with living on our retirement income. In reality we could have afforded much more than we spent. I was given this advice before we had our design meeting but I didn't listen. Live and learn.

Window coverings...the rest can wait....and look at resales too....everything finished...there are some really exceptional ones in good locations.

There was another post about things to do when you move into a new home, and it said the main thing is to be friendly and get to know your neighbors. It said that if you just focus on the house and ignore your neighbors, they will naturally form their own groups (cliques) that do not include you, and you will find yourself being left out.

The post also said to have your garage floor epoxied. It is hard to do after you move in and the garage is full of stuff.

Window coverings? That surprises me as the new house we bought already had decent matching blinds throughout. I thought all new homes had them but maybe I'm wrong on that.

We added some landscaping and a decorative sealant for the lanai floor plus bought a washer and dryer as those weren't included in the house. Once we moved in (we rented the house out unfurnished for a year before retiring and moving here), we realized that the renters were right on a couple of things and addressed those. Namely, we really didn't like the fridge the house came with and the water taste wasn't great. We got a new fridge and moved the old one to the garage to hold drinks and we had the folks from Nova come out and add whole-home water filtration and now the water tastes great.

I kind of like the looks of the sealed, dressed-up driveways and garage floors but not enough to warrant the initial cost and whatever upkeep and/or replacement those would entail. As far as removing carpeting, I actually prefer carpeting - especially in the living room. Hardwood or tile floors are easier to maintain and look nice but I'm a home theater enthusiast and hard floors really make a good sound system sound harsh and echo-y plus party conversation is much louder. I've yet to put in attic stairs as I use the attic so rarely that using a ladder just isn't that much of an inconvenience. Our lanai faces north so we didn't have to put in shades for it but I know a lot of folks who've added something for their lanais that are in direct sun. The house is open and light enough for us that we haven't felt the need for solar tubes, though I can see their appeal.

For some folks, particularly from northern states, the temptation to add a palm tree is overwhelming. Research it first. They can look really great but some varieties require quite a lot of maintenance and some folks argue that they attract palm rats (which are different than the common rats you get up north but just as annoying). We're tempted ourselves (we're from Michigan, after all) but since the neighbors on both sides of our house have them, we can enjoy theirs until we ever decide to get one of our own.

Some folks here also spend a LOT on Christmas decorations, some spend little, many do nothing. If you haven't been here over Christmas, you're in for either a treat or a shock. There are some displays out there you might find amazing and some you might find garish. Your neighborhood may already have an established theme and you might want to buy matching items to fit in. Up to you, of course.

Oh, and you have to save out a few bucks ($50 and up) for a name sign for the light post out front! Take your time, look around the neighborhood and pick out something you'll like for a long time. Moving here from a northern state will make you want to put up one with palm trees in it or maybe golfers but check out how many like that are already out there! Here's a chance to show your personality and creativity!

There are only two things that are difficult to do after you move in. Epoxy the garage floor and replace the cheap carpet. We wished we had waited 6 months before doing landscaping, bought window treatments, upgraded entrance, put in attic fan, and installed crown molding. Suggest you put in the garage attic stairs. You are going to bring to much stuff. Biggest thing is get at least 2 quotes for everything.

I agree with you except...Attic stairs, our new homes came with blinds. We kept the original landscaping from both houses. The landscaping they give you is lovely and very right for this part of Florida, it lives through frosts and I think they do a great job with arrangement.

We later added pebbles and low walls and removed a few bushes. Things grow fast here.

We added downspouts and brought our washer and dryer with us. I personally prefer a new home since resales are about the same price here. We have had only two used homes out of eleven.

Excellent response

Yes, thanks for taking the time on your post.

A lot of good info from all.

Thanks

Resist by all means to get the tropical look in landscaping by adding queen palms (cheap/look tropical).
As they mature they require a minimum twice per year cleaning out of seed pods and other residue. Early on one can do it but as they grow (quickly) they become too tall and even dirtier in their out put.

No on Queen palms.
Put in only cold hardy plants.

Wait a year or two to see what came with the house looks like.

You'll want attic stairs. You can do it yourself if you are handy. If not, there are many folks happy to help you. We had the garage floor epoxied after closing, so it was cured and ready to go when we moved in. We did the rest of the concrete later.

We ordered and installed blinds ourselves. You can get plantation shutters, which are gorgeous, but they also cost much more, and the frame blocks light from entering your home.

A water softener is good, but you don't need to go all out unless that is important to you. You can pick up a fine model at a big box store, install it yourself, of hire a handyman.

Washer and dryer. Ours were 12 years old; we sold them with the Northern house.

Don't landscape too quickly. Go a full season and look at everyone else's stuff. We landscaped too quickly and made mistakes which had to be corrected later.

Take a good hard look at your possessions. That oak furniture that looks so good up north ~ it just doesn't transition well. The resale stores are full of it.

IMO, most everything else can be done later, as you adjust to your new expenses.

Never heard of Palm rats before, wow.

Palm Trees
 

We have 9 palm trees and have not had a rodent problem.

For my two cents worth
 

RE: blinds
We bought four years ago and they were not included. We bought them privately and had them installed before we moved in. ERROR we made- we have arched windows and did not cover the arches. A mistake. A different times of the day, the sun makes it difficult to see the television, computer monitor or?
RE: epoxy garage floor
I had my woodworking stuff delivered to the living room. WIFE WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT. We waited about a month to avoid cracks and then had the floor epoxied. We waited another month for the floor to fully cure. WIFE? wIFE WAS ready to carry my about 500 lb work table, full sized table saw. lathe etc out to the garage by herself.
RE: garage stairway
We did not have one installed. The space above the garage is not temperature controlled-very hot in summer and cold in winter. Whatever you might put up there will likely deteriorate. Also, I do not feel comfortable on those fold up ladders.
RE: AC
Our home was prebuilt so we were not offered any upgrades. We have a 15 SEER heatpump 2400 sq ft and our electric bills run between 60 and $120. I've replaced ALL of our lighting with LEDs but I don't think it matters much. No one mentions it but regular incandescent bulbs do put out a lot of heat that your AC needs to get rid of.
A more efficient AC would be 18 SEER the difference is just under 17%. Since, not all of your electric usage is for AC, you also use electricity for cooking, refrigerator, lights, etc
I do not believe you would save 12% so based on our bills
$60-12%= $7.20 to 14.40 a month.
RE: Kitchen cabinets
If, you can, I would explore upgrading them.

Assuming the tastes of the person the originally owned the home are the same as yours. If not, you will spend the same for changing the home to your tastes plus removal of what they had. An earlier post had it close to right, identify your wants vs your needs. Get as much done when they build your house, floors, granite tops, expanded lanai. Depending on your age, take a 30 year mortgage (and take the bond to 30 also) and play with their money. Unless you are wealthy it should all be about cash flow. When you move in get it as close to done as you can so you can enjoy the life here. Oh, when you look at expenses, increase the food and entertainment.....we all eat tons down here :)

13 palm trees, 4 years, no problem. We have a service come in twice a year to trim and fertilizer all trees and plants. While they do that we are on the golf course :)

Yeah Wiki says Palm Rats are only on 3 Islands, none of which are even remotely near Florida, or the USA for that matter.

I should have known.....

That seems to be true, but Roof Rats are commonly called Palm Rats, Citrus Rats, Black Rats or Ship Rats.

They are here, but you will probably never see them. I shudder to think what's in the palms with beards.

Our home came with blinds, fans, appliances...including washer and dryer. 80% of the furnishings were purchased from Amazon. The rest came from Rooms to Go. At some point I will purchase curtains for the windows...just as an added part of the decor. Blinds do a great job of keeping the sun/heat out. I did have to put grout sealer on the grout in tiled areas, and I coated the glass shower doors to help reduce buildup of minerals. We are considering a water filter...that should help extend the life of appliances...and reduce water spotting. We are also getting a whole house surge protector from SECO. Lots of lightening strikes!!! Skylights are a maybe in the future. Good luck in your hunt for a home. Fenney is great, as I am sure Desoto and the other new sites will be too!

Yes l be sure to look at resales. IMO a better bargain.

We just bought a house in Santo Domingo ... looking for advice ...
Who is the best source to epoxy the garage floor?

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...lation-106570/

These people are probably still out there....

Taste has little to do with attic stairs, washer and dryer, blinds, landscaping, and most of those are missing on a new home. Paint color is easy and cheap to change and most folks rip out carpet in new or used and replace with wood or tile. I personally have found resale homes to be a much better value then new homes. Most don't look at bond or those things that still have to be done in a new home that are already done in a resale. But you must if you want to really compare the two.

We bought in Fenney also, blinds were in. First few things we did were donuts around the sprinkler, someone to take care of the lawn, attic stairs, powered roof vent, Nova water system including softener, Nova is by far the lowest priced system and a softener is a softener, we've had them all over the years, also had gutters and downspouts put all the way around, and tiled our lanai floor, kitchen backsplash and then went into decorating and now have contracted landscape and driveway pavers. As far as lawn service, Fenney has St. Augustine, we used Deans and they all but destroyed our lawn, find someone else we are now doing it ourselves as we don't have much grass to maintain. Spectrum is down here for cable and internet and might as well get a house phone, no contract required, until the new cell towers are up as most have to go outside to use their cell phones.

With my own eyes, I have seen a palm rat run across a street and run right up a palm tree and disappear. Oh, and the palm tree was only a few feet from the house so the rat could get onto their roof, with no problem.

What is the problem with having a few palm rats running around. Has anyone here been bitten or have had an uncontrolled infestation??? What villages are these things in, before we bought our home we rented form 7 winters and no one ever mentioned having a problem with rats. We've been here in Fenney for 10 months, there were posts on here stating that there will be all kinds of critters running around down here because of the excavation, I have not seen a mouse, rat, raccoon, armadillo, skunk, coyote, panther, wild pig, snake, or anything else. I did see a snake in the parking lot of the Lake Sumter Sales Office but that is miles away from Fenney and an alligator in our pond which I like seeing, and that is it.

Well it does, all the things you mentioned have to do with taste and personal preference. Have several friends here who have bought pre-owned and replaced the washer and dryer, tore out the blinds and put there own in. Landscaping is all about personal taste. If you can accept what someone else likes, then go for it. If you want to put your own stamp on what you buy either get new or prepare to change what you bought. Bond impact is over rated unless, money is all that matters.

The new homes in Fenney are priced much, much lower than comparable re-sales north of 44. We came down last spring to buy a re-sale with no intention to buy new but after looking at the re-sales and then being brought to Fenney to look at new homes, we bought the new home immediately and have absolutely no regrets. Sure, it's farther for shopping but shopping will be here soon and the atmosphere and pricing more than makes up for waiting for commercial development. I'm not against buying a used home as that was our intent and new is not for everyone but the savings down here was too great to pass up. If you do end up in Fenney be sure to join Fenney Friends (see our website) and come to the monthly social gathering at the pavilion to meet all of your great neighbors and of whom are new.

Definitely will look Fenney Friends up. Thanks for all the responses.

Golf cart wires have been eaten. Vehicle wires have been eaten. All at a cost to the owner, not the rat that ate them...Village of Ashland... in her garage...

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Agreed. However if you want privacy, you will need to purchase drapes or blinds right away. My recommendation is to buy drapes on sale (Pottery Barn has some on sale) and than wait out for a year to see if you would prefer blinds or something more fancy.

Yes, show your personality and creativity by NOT using flamingoes, dolphins, parrots, globes, fish, nets, shells. No need to show others you are in Florida; they know you are.

You should have looked further north, like North of 466. I bought a 1700 sq foot Designer with 2.5 car garage for $257,000. No bond. The home had just been remodeled with over $90,000 of very tasteful upgrades. A similar new home in Fenney costs about the same, has a $30k bond, and has few if any upgrades.

Wow. $90,000 in recent upgrades in a house that sells for $257,000???
I think I could look north of 466 for the next year and not find anything close to a deal like that.
Good for you!