Purchasing a brand-new fixer-upper
 

Hi—

I know I have some followers here who are interested in what a new buyer may do their home after moving in, so here is an update of my journey to date:

I’m moving right along with my home upgrades (purchased a brand new patio villa in December)

What I have already done:
- Purchased Washer/Dryer
- Purchased entire household of new furniture / TV
- Installed glass doors in Master Bathroom
- Installed NOVA water system
- Extended concrete patio area on side of home and added wrap-around Birdcage
- Added gutters, with two buried drains
- Ripped out rolled vinyl flooring and carpet and replaced with vinyl planking and upgraded floorboards to 5”
- Epoxy’d Garage floor
- Purchased new golf cart
- Bought new car (traded in older vehicle)

What I have pending (estimates in, contractors hired, work to be completed between now and end of summer):
- Landscaping and brickwork
- Epoxy of birdcage
- Paint driveway and walkway
- Install glass insert to front door
- Paint entire interior of house / Install crown molding
- Replace kitchen and bathroom counters with quartz and replace all sinks with “drop-in” sinks / Also upgrade all faucets
- Install backsplash
- Install pantry “pull-outs” in all pantry shelves
- Install shelving in laundry closet
- Redesign and upgrade shelving in both bedroom closet.
- Custom frame all art work.

Still to do (probably fall of this year):
- Purchase storage cabinets for garage
- Buy new set of golf clubs
- Purchase E- Bike
- Install Pendant light fixtures along with ambient lighting in kitchen
- Replace cheap-looking sliding door blinds with some sort of upgrade
- Install a surge-protector

On-fence (not sure or not at this point):
- Install a lightning rod
- Install plantation shutters
- Rip out master shower and put in tile.
- Put in a “smart’ doorbell.
- Installing solar tubing in ceiling of both windowless bathrooms
- Upgrade ceiling fans
- Install a TV on wall in bedroom

I realize I’m doing a lot more than the average new buyer, but I really want to make this house “my own”.

Hopefully others will find my list of upgrades helpful, and something to consider when buying a home for the first time in The Villages.

I appreciate all the messages I receive, especially from those who are currently outside of The Villages, but are very interested in possibly making this your future retirement home.

Life is good here - but managing all these projects has been an almost full time job (but a fun one) - but hopefully all will settle down later this year.

This is wy I called my house a starter kit.

Unless you intend to live in that patio villa forever, id suggest, go easy, just put things in that make you comfortable.

Many people here, and even when i was up north, that are too much for what you have.

Phewww! I'm going to have to take a nap after reading your to-do list...good luck

It might be less to upgrade to cottage or designer, with everything you want. In January you will see multiple homes up for sale in Richmond

I agree - I tried multiple times for a designer home in Richmond, but could only come in first for a villa - but I’m happy and it all worked out for the best (when done, my villa will look very much like a cottage or designer home inside) - my neighbors were just talking about what will happen in Richmond starting in November, when the one year will start to be up - with so many investors who bought in Richmond, will be interesting if many of them put their homes up as soon as they can at the one-year mark - will be interesting to see what they ask for vs what they paid - some feel that with us being so close to Brownwood, that the there could be a bit of a “bump” in what some will ask for in putting their house up for sale.

Interesting!! what will be the driver for the multiple homes for sale in Richmond?

If you are doing that much work on a new house (looks like an almost total renovation) what was your reason for not buying a preowned house and fixing that up?

Hitting the one year mark where the developer no longer gets to keep the profits. Or the two year mark for capital gains.

Wanted an open floor plan, high ceilings, and being close to Brownwood and south of 44 (half hour golf cart right to Eastport) - thinking of future. I like the “south of 44” vibe.

South of 44 vibe: no stores, no shops, no restaurants, none planned, no land allocation planned for these either, turnpike noise off the chain, visible high power transmission lines everywhere you look....I'd stop with the renovations on the new home and move north villages

Wow, that’s a lot. I’m sure you have out much thought as well as time and money into your upgrades. If I could make one suggestion it would be to get that surge protector put in sooner rather than later. With the lightning we get here in the summer it might be worthwhile to move that up on the list.

@Micheal, as soon as you're done, let me know when you can get started on my place! :thumbup:

I would move lightning rods up on the list. Cheap insurance.

First thing I thought too when reading this list. You need the surge protector ASAP! Best of luck with all of your projects! We’ve been doing the same with our veranda home in DeLuna since closing in December. It’s been all consuming to say the least. 🤪

You will have spent a lot of time and money and have a very nice home. Are you willing to risk it going up in smoke by "being on the fence" with a lightning rod system living in Florida?
We put a lightning rod system/surge protector in our home very soon after closing.

That is two replies on surge protectors. Does anyone have numbers on how many homes are hit with surges each year?

Any suggestions on where to buy it and ballpark price?

Buried deep in the 90 posts on this lightning thread is the data you seek.😀

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...llages-342082/

I would rethink shower tile. It would be better to get a solid service either stone or vinyl look alike because you will not have grout to clean. This is what they are putting in a lot of the new homes. Cleaning grout is not fun especially as you get older.

Michael it sounds like you are making an already cute villa your own. And crafting a lovely new life in TV. Would love to see the finished product as we are looking to purchase a similar home this fall. Maybe “The Newcomers” can do a tour showing all your upgrades. 😃

#1. Surge protectors
Protect all of your other investments

Sad you have a brand new home and have to invest in exterior paint, upgrade floors that have barely been walked on, etc. the cookie cutter approach of new home construction now is a disappointment. I do hope your investment will be returned should you ever need or want to sell.

Not in Marsh Bend.

Would be interested in the list of contractors you’ve used and whether you were happy with them afterward. We’ve put off doing projects because heard many sad stories from folks. Also interested in extending concrete. Thanks for all you share!

Thanks for sharing! Your list is similar to ours in DeLuna. I hope you’re using Creative Finish Carpentry for crown moulding and painting. They did our whole house in one day. They do all kinds of moulding too, not just crown. They’re family owned with a huge crew, each with their own part to do, and they use real wood, not MDF. We’re so happy with the job they did for us, as well as many neighbors, and our villages agent who referred them to us. A very well oiled machine. 👍🏻

Sounds like you live North, and are happy there - so I am happy for you. Did you not think I was aware of and checked out everything you mentioned before I bought? I am not a shopper, and dislike the crowded shopping areas up North. I don’t eat at chain and fast food restaurants, and am happy with FMK restaurants that I can either walk to or take an 8 minute golf cart ride to in Brownwood or 10 minute golf cart ride to Edna’s on the Green. Turnpike noise? - not an issue where I bought in northern Richmond. Power lines? - none visible around where I live in Richmond. I’m very happy where I live, just as you are apparently happy where you live - why can’t we both be happy and supportive of each other?

Which newer homes? I have a new home in DeLuna and I have tiled showers in 2 of my 3 bathrooms. I would’ve loved a stone solid surface. The grout in the master shower is such a huge PITA that I’m looking for a cleaning service now.

I was already featured on an episode of the newcomers when I first moved here a few months ago - they mentioned they would like to come back and see my place after all my renovations, so stay tuned ….. 😀

South of 44
 

Totally agree! North villages may be older, but has everything.

Several additional things to consider:

Is the lawn and shrub irrigation system working properly? Oftentimes, too few zones and too few heads are originally installed. The irrigation controller might also be obsolete. I recommend replacing the old technology irrigation controller with a 12 or 16 zone Orbit B-Hyve system. You can find them at Lowe’s, Home Depot, and other sources. The Orbit B-Hyve controller is easily programmed and monitored from your cellphone from anywhere. The Orbit B-Hyve controller also automatically puts the system into automatic rain delay based on the forecast. Our Florida home had a lousy old technology irrigation controller, which I replaced right away.

Does your home have mostly LED lighting? Our Florida home had incandescent lighting with 21 incandescent only light dimmers. I replaced the light dimmers with Lutron Caseta light dimmers that can accept most lights, including incandescent and LED lights. I then replaced the incandescent lights with LED lights, which draw a fraction of the electricity.

I also replaced the obsolete mechanical timers for the outside lighting with Lutron Caseta dimmers or interrupter switches, depending if a neutral wire was available. The interrupter requires a neutral wire, the dimmer does not require the neutral wire. The Lutron Caseta switches can be controlled, monitored, and programmed with your cellphone from anywhere. The outdoor lights can be programmed to turn on at sunset and off at sunrise. They are programmed one time. The lights then follow the sunset and sunrise times perfectly throughout the year as the sunset and sunrise times change. It even follows the daylight savings time and standard time changes perfectly. The sunset and sunrise times are programmed to your zip code. That system totally automates your outdoor lighting.

Another thing is your security system. A security system is important! You never want to be in a situation where an intruder is in your house and attacking you as you are in bed, trying to wake up. You could be injured, tortured, or killed. An alarm system will alert you to the situation and most likely the intruder will run away. Intruders don’t want to be shot by armed homeowners, or arrested by the police. A good place to start is the Alarm System Store on the Internet. The DSC Neo system is a good security system. You can self monitor or have central station monitoring, or both. Security system companies like ADT are a total ripoff, charging you $30 to $40 a month for monitoring. ADT also locks you into a 3 year contract that automatically renews if you forget to cancel it. Good alarm monitoring should cost about $140 a year.

A whole house generator is also a very nice thing to have. We planned on having a generator in our Florida home before moving to Florida. We signed the contract for a 24 KW natural gas automatic starting whole house electric generator. It automatically starts with 30 seconds of a power outage. During hurricane Ian, our generator ran for 29 hours continuously, and powered everything in the house, including the two heat pump air conditioners. If you don’t have natural gas service, then you’ll need to have a large propane tank installed, which will add a few thousand dollars to the cost. Our generator took 10 months of waiting for the installation and cost about $14,000. You might be able to use a gasoline generator. But dealing with gasoline storage isn’t safe, and refilling your gasoline generator with 80 mph hurricane winds blowing debris around that could injure or kill you isn’t safe either. Gasoline generators are also targets for criminals to steal, unless you lock them In security cages.

Modern thermostats like the Ecobee is a good idea. You can control and monitor the thermostat with your cellphone from anywhere.

Camera systems are also a good idea. That builds on the them of knowing what’s going on at your home when you are away from your home.

Those automation and safety items will increase your peace of mind, save money in the long run, and increase your safety.

Well, you bought at the top of the market. You paid the highest bond amount for patio villas in the history of TV. Looks like you're putting a ton of money into this villa. Better keep it as your forever home because it will be pretty much impossible to ever get your money back.

shower material
 

[/B] Tile is out dated i would go with a solid surface like JETTASTONE SOLID SURFACE!!

Hi Michael – sounds like you ate having a wonderful time and living your best life!!!! We bought a 12 year old courtyard villa and are working on some renovations slowly and having a blast doing it. Thank you so much for your update… Make sure you have plenty of time to have fun!

All good up-grades and most everyone does them. I would not spend the money on Solar Tubes in the bathrooms. With LED lighting you could leave the lights on 24/7 for 25 years and never spend that much money. Lighting rods is a toss up but it is quite expensive.

Good Luch…

I do not, but my home which is the most important home to me, was hit. Took out a brand new big screen TV. I now have all electronics in UPSes, and rent a whole house surge protector from SECO.

Who Cares!

Lightning rods are one of those on the fence items. The problem comes when your insurance company wants a new roof installed after 10 years, the lightning stuff has to be removed before the new roof can be installed. Same problem with solar stuff.

Crawl out of your shell Skippy!!! Do you not read any of Wildwood's Zoning and Planning agenda minutes or the Southern Oaks Comprehensive Growth Plan??? I appreciate the stores being up north and prefer it that way. I am much happier living in the south and not having to deal with that rat race everyday or the noise from all of the traffic. If you ever come to visit us youngins' in the south, you will note we dont eat much at restaurants, we prefer to have BBQ's, block/driveway parties, pool parties, and many other social events with our neighbors. When we decide to eat out, there are plenty of choices all within a three mile radius for us to choose. We are happy you chose up north, it doesn't sound like you would 'vibe' with us southerners, but if you will excuse me, its time to head out for a 20 mile bike ride on our multi-modal paths...

New
 

You must have w beon Powerball!!

He’s not you.