what to do first
 

Would like to start improvements before June 2011 when I will be down for good. However, I am still up in NY and visit my home once very couple of months. Things needed to be done. (this is a new home)
Wood Floors
Painting
Closets
Counter tops:(do the cabinets have to be replaced to do this):undecided:
outside planting ::undecided:
any starting point would be great. thanks everyone.

YOur note is a little confusing in what needs to be done to a new home..ie countertops..why are you replacing countertops in a new home....didnt you have the option to order what you wnted? If you do replace the countertops it should not effect the cabinets and with all that dust and disruption to the kitchen be done before you move in!

OUTSIDE painting would be one of the last things you need to do unless I am missing something.

If you are going to tear out the rugs and put wood floors in of course that should be done before you move in...as interior painting would also be easier with no furniture. What are you doing in the closets...anding shelves or customizing?

If you had to prioritize with what you want done
Countertops
interior painting
closets (unless you are painting these)
floors
Exterior painting ??

I do find it amazing how different people pick different "first" projects for a new home. From your list the only thing we did in our new home during the first 30 days was add shelves in the closet. Our quick initial fixes were cabinets and shelves in the laundry room, Crown moulding, stain garage floor before movers came, add attic stairs, add work bench and shelves in garage and we also had to install blinds and curtains..

Two suggestion are to check with the Sheriff's office - Crimes Against Seniors - to make sure the Contractor you hire has no file there for being dishonest and make sure the Contractor is insured and licensed. We had a nightmare experience with our home before we knew about Crimes Against Seniors. I do not like to hear of others having the problem we had with the General Contractor we hired to do the work on our home. He now has a file at the Sheriffs office in Marion County. My husband had to finish some of the work we paid for and it took quite awhile to fix his mess -This guy was a dishonest - fast talking person who had all the credentials he needed. I will never know how he stays in business and where he found the subs he hired. My husband finally threw him out of our home - I hope this helps you.

I can highly recommend Busby's closets - cell (813) 966-1186. He has a home in The Villages and has his closets available to view as samples. He and his helper did 2 custom closets (1 small walk-in and 1 standard) for me in about 3 hours on my last visit. I thought he was very reasonable. He uses a closet system that looks a lot (to me) like California Closets or Closets by Design. They even patch any screw holes and touch up the paint, and vacuum!

His helper also does odd jobs, in particular laundry room cabinets. That will be my next project this spring before we move down permanently. I think he will also reuse some of the wire shelving to customize the remaining closets. He lives just outside the Villages, close to Lowe's, and said he could pick up whatever cabinets I order from Lowe's on his way to install. He will come out first to do a quote and discuss options, of course. I kept his card - name is Gene - gblomquist3@gmail.com or 352-307-9739.

Tell them both you were referred by a happy Sabal Chase resident in Tanglewood Villas.