Help with new home construction
 

Does anyone have any helpful hints/ideas when one is building a new home in The Villages? We are about to meet with the design team and would appreciate any suggestions on what we should buy on our own, etc. We are meeting soon so would appreciate a reply ASAP?

Stretch the floor plan as much as you are allowed. This is your best opportunity to add square footage.
Get a golf car garage added if you don't already have one.
Get better flooring - not the builder grade carpeting.
If your ceilings are high, then upgrade to bigger base molding. Consider crown molding.
The roman shower is fantastic.
I have a make-up desk in the master bath. Since I have back problems, I love it and use it all the time.

One thing we did is have a block hip high wall in our lanai instead of having screening all the way down. This made it easier to close in the lanai with sliders..

Consider getting a professional landscape firm to help with the outside. Annual landscape costs can very expensive.

You may want to look at:
Wiring for a future alarm system (doors and windows)
Wiring for future camera system (front, back, and inside locations)
Many people like the tile on a diagonal.
Second towel racks in all bathrooms
LED under counter lighting and top lighting is MUCH cheaper after you move in.
Insulated garage door, windows in the garage door.
Floor options for Lanai and Birdcage.
Sun reducing screening in the birdcage (we used 50% reduction).
Additional electrical wiring in the birdcage and lanai.
Floor receptacle in the living room, this avoids cords running along the floor if you want table lamps.
Stone counter tops, everywhere.

Hope this helps

Insulate garage ceiling.

Mentioned already..........we did the extra wiring for an alarm system and had Galaxy install with we moved in.

Diagonal floor tile

Buy larger than you think you will need, that way you may only move twice instead of the average 3 times :)

Did all but the make up desk and upgraded flooring. . Adding square footage is a huge savings during the building stage.

It may be too late for you, but with all the new and preowned homes available for purchase in The Villages, it really doesn't make sense to have a new home built. It's much easier and more economical to purchase a home that is ready to move in to. Building a new home will involve numerous headaches and frustrations, and the builder will charge you full retail price for all of the upgrades you request. And, when you are finished, you will end up with a house that is not worth what you paid for it, and probably will not fully meet your expectations or needs. Just my opinion as a professional engineer with 40 years of experience in construction.

We built from the ground up............selected the lot, the model, the upgrades, the colors, the surfaces, everything..........and love it. Would not do it any other way. We got exactly what we wanted. TV made it pretty simple.

Not a slam............I've known a lot of engineer that over engineer.

:ohdear:

We put 3 lights in the living room ceiling above the lania doors. Glad we did. That area can be dark.

If property taxes are based on sale price, I would suggest doing minimal extras
Until after purchase. However, the items like wiring, piping, or extra sq footage
Are always advised at time of planning.

1. Have The Villages build up your lanai floor to be level with the interior floor, so you don't have the dreaded step down from house to lanai. It's very expensive and disruptive to build up the lanai floor after closing.

2. Require a full apron driveway in front of the golf cart garage. The severe angle they usually pour is hard to negotiate.

3. Require a radius entryway side walk. The 90 degree right angle they usually pour is not user friendly.

4. Be thoughtful about the drawer hardware and knobs you want. You can go through a few houses in the process of being built and find a style you like. Note the house number and street. Tell the designer you want the same style.

5. If the designers are still using Whirlpool appliances, I recommend the Gold Series.

6. It really is possible in some designer models to add a private bath in one of the secondary bedrooms. You'll never regret having that extra bathroom.

7. I recommend a shower instead of a bathtub in the guest bath.

I built my new home 1 year ago.

If its possible get the a/c zoned --master bedroom different from the rest of the house.

A common sense approach.