Workshops?
 

My wife and I are seriously considering moving the The Villages. We have looked at dozens and dozens of listed homes but none of them seem to have anything like workshops. With way over 100k residents and lots of clubs, like RC and woodworking, that require some place to work what does everyone do for a workshop?

For background, I am an avid RC modeler and build and fly planes as big as 10’ or more. In addition I love to occasionally do some woodworking. That said, I need a space big enough for work benches, power tools, painting, etc… It doesn’t have to be a huge space but it needs to be a couple hundred square feet or so.

I know I could probably convert one bay of a garage, but I would still need two bays for cars and one for a golf cart. That would mean a 4-car garage. It that what others do?

Thank you

Paul

You don't say what your price range is, but a premier model might suit your needs. Most of them have at least a three-car garage, and you could probably shoe-horn a golf cart in with the two cars.
Maybe someone with a premier could elaborate.

Thank you for the quick response. My price range is probably $750k or so. I do see that some the premier homes listed have 4-car garages but I don’t see workshop spaces.

I just have to wonder, with the bulk of the TV population being in non-Premier homes, what do they all do for space. Do they just give up hobbies that require workshops when they retire?

Short answer - yes. Longer answer - there are clubs for just about every activity you can imagine, and many have found space for workshops. The run-of-the-mill Designer house is very limited on extra space. If you can't dedicate one of the bedrooms for your hobby or convert part of the garage (including adding AC) then you might want to take up stamp collecting!

Try calling the woodshop and ask your question.

Woodshop - Call for Info Hacienda Office Monitor 704 Oak Street villageswoodshop@embarqmail.com (352) 751-0513

Hahaha, thank! I don’t know about stamp collecting (been there done that), but there do seem to be a lot of other activities to try out

Rent a storage place(or two)and put your workshop in there. Any workshop that causes too much noise will not be allowed for very long. Living here means you must abide by their conditions. While some who live here seem to regret the conditions they moved into I believe many moved "because" of the conditions. Most for peace and quiet.

Some people rant and rave about the regs and rules, but they bought into this life style and can always move. So really look into what is banned...not okay. Aside....if you're thinking of a home business....that is questionable. Luck I love it here.

I've seen homes advertised with four car garages. A 10 foot RC plane? I would expect it needs it's own bedroom. I had model RC planes many years ago. I wonder about servos that can move control surfaces that large as well as restrictions on where you can fly it.

Years ago I met a guy that bought a one bedroom apartment in New York city.
It was actually at one time the janitors closet. He and his brother , both skilled woodworkers built their own furniture. Stuff like tables that became chairs. Beds that became tables and the bathroom was in the middle of the living room.

Wife? My wife thinks my lathe and my table saw are a great place to put her over runs.

Space? No matter how much space you have, you will wish you had more. Least I do.

Build a home with a 4-car garage and have them wall it any way you wish to use as a workshop, you will most likely have to be on a corner lot to get the 4-car garage so leave room for a mower and landscape tools. You will have to insulate the shop well and run a portable floor air conditioner or a mini-split (window air is not allowed) as it get's extremely hot in the garages, $750 should cover it with a nice sized designer on a interior lot. View or golf course lots might not fit into the budget with a finished work shop.

I hadn’t really thought about renting a space somewhere. I will look into that, thanks. Insofar as noise, I don’t usually make a lot of noise, and even when I do make a little, it is during the day.

It is interesting that you mention people moving to TV for the peace and quiet. We live on a lake now and we have nothing but peace and quiet. Too quiet, we need more activities.

Thanks again

Here ya go.:ho:

https://districtgov.org/images/ClubsListing.pdf

There’s a house, (Premier), near me. The owner designed a beautiful workshop into the plan. It’s 24x60. I drooled the first time I saw it. From the front, you’d never know it was a workshop. It looks like a 4 car garage from the street. The workshop is separated from the other two car garage with an interior wall and a man door. Awesome setup.

On Top Of The World has an RC club with an area to run air craft, drones and other assorted rc things. I read a posting where a former Villages resident had moved to OTOTW in order to indulge in his hobby. They do sell fee simple homes in a couple of developments if leasehold bothers you.

24x60, WOW! I was thinking 12x20, but I guess it doesn’t hurt to dream big.

I am familiar with OTOTW. Nice, but not TV. Actually, having a place to fly isn’t the problem. There are actually several big RC clubs very close to TV.