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. 🤪