[TrudyM]

OK I have decided that an open lanai or birdcage with a kissing lanai is useless. I am sitting on the little lanai and I can hear conversations and yelling at the dog from three different houses and they are not out in their lanai just in their houses with the sliders open. I have to say at this point those of you who know me know I talk a little (maybe more than a little) loud because I am second generation slightly hard of hearing and it is a habit. So hubby and I don't talk when sitting outside. So if I can hear them what do ordinary hearing people experience? When the people behind have people over I feel I need to go inside and close the slider or I am intruding on their party. I now understand why a lot of the previously owned houses we have looked at have glassed in their lanai. The first month we were here we were in a courtyard villa now we are in a cottage home. In the courtyard villa you could hear but it was more muffled and at least you have the illusion of privacy and don't feel like you are intruding on someone elses space. I hope our place out west sells for a good price because the premium for rear privacy is now very high.

If you put on a large birdcage can you put a wall up inside the birdcage, or do the birdcage ontop of a wall so you have the illusion of privacy?

[SouthOfTheBorder]

Hi,

You are sooooo right. There are a lot of important decisions that have to be made in the process of buying a place to live in TV.

Don

[gomoho]

We have an offset lot with an enclosed lanai. Would provide the level of privacy we would want if we needed it. Next door neighbors never come out, one backyard neighbor has not rear outside space and the other hasn't been seen in 2 years. So for now it's perfect - if people showed up we are enclosed so that should take care of that.
Obviously a lot on a golf course or pond would be preferable, but don't think the majority have that kind of money. Actually I would think the pond would offer the most privacy because I find myself on the golf cart path always looking at people's lanais to see how they are decorated and often greet them if they are out.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by TrudyM

OK I have decided that an open lanai or birdcage with a kissing lanai is useless. I am sitting on the little lanai and I can hear conversations and yelling at the dog from three different houses and they are not out in their lanai just in their houses with the sliders open. I have to say at this point those of you who know me know I talk a little (maybe more than a little) loud because I am second generation slightly hard of hearing and it is a habit. So hubby and I don't talk when sitting outside. So if I can hear them what do ordinary hearing people experience? When the people behind have people over I feel I need to go inside and close the slider or I am intruding on their party. I now understand why a lot of the previously owned houses we have looked at have glassed in their lanai. The first month we were here we were in a courtyard villa now we are in a cottage home. In the courtyard villa you could hear but it was more muffled and at least you have the illusion of privacy and don't feel like you are intruding on someone elses space. I hope our place out west sells for a good price because the premium for rear privacy is now very high.

If you put on a large birdcage can you put a wall up inside the birdcage, or do the birdcage ontop of a wall so you have the illusion of privacy?

I have seen that where a pool is involved. If you really want a good answer give AR a call.
Community Standards
Phone: 352-751-3912

[jimbo2012]

simple, landscaping

[TrudyM]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

I have seen that where a pool is involved. If you really want a good answer give AR a call.
Community Standards
Phone: 352-751-3912

That's the other thing now that the developer is doing everything on spec the homes with the bigger lots have a pool. I don't want a private pool. I would only want a pool if it was salt water even then they are a lot of work and the neighborhood pools are nice and social.

I guess nothing is perfect.

[raynitsche]

Wherever your home is located it's always about the neighbors.
My neighborhood is as quiet as a cemetery.

[MicheleE]

My Mom's house is for sale and has no lanai. Their broker didn't tell them that they should build one on because after their village was built (Liberty Park), all of the home were going to be spec homes. Her house is amazing and everyone that has seen the inside want it,.....until they ask about the lanai. I know there are many people that don't care about a lanai - in fact, I hardly use mine and if it wasn't there I wouldn't miss it.

[DianeM]

The lanai is one of the major reasons I bought my house. I need/want some level of outdoors space. Granted our houses are close but we all knew that when we signed on the dotted line. People do speak and dogs do bark. Short of hermitting indoors I'm not sure there is a resolution other than to barricade the lanai with glass sliders.

[JP]

I love my linai and prefer to be out in my linai than in my house.

[DianeM]

Originally Posted by JP

I love my linai and prefer to be out in my linai than in my house.

Me too. I'm in and out all day.

[travelguy]

we practically live out on our lanai. when the weather is moderate we take all 3 meals of the day out there. even in the heat of august it is so nice to be able to eat outdoors, without any bugs. our yard is fenced with a 6' white vinyl solid fence; yes, it is the only neighborhood in The Villages with this feature. on the ohter side of the fence are patio villas; since their lanais are on the front corners of their homes we hear nothing from our neighbors. and it seems that every other home on our street is occupied by snowbirds, and are vacant about 9 months of the year. so, we have it good. and our lanai is screened, not glassed in.

[Carl in Tampa]

We rented here twice before buying. Both of the rentals had very heavy foliage behind them. In the first rental we could still hear the voices of the people behind us on their lanai, and worse, could hear their TV.

The second rental was on a corner with heavy foliage across the back and the side. Either the neighbors were very quiet, or more likely they were vacant rental units, but we never heard anyone on the other lanais.

As someone has already suggested, it depends on the neighbors you have.

Our house has a very nice recessed front porch and it is a pleasant place to sit in the evenings. We are on a cul-de-sac so the traffic is minimal.

The lesson would be to shop long and hard before you buy.

.

[Matzy]

Well, my experience is that the lanai isn't constructed to keep noise outside or give a lot of privacy. We used it always to be protected from little bugs which usually coming early evening. And yes, sometimes are the "bugs" a little bigger but have to stay outside, too.

[kaydee]

Love our screened lanai...we spend more home time on the lanai than we do inside. Naturally with the chilly temps we've been having we aren't able to be out there and we miss that. We have neighbors in the back and never has that been a problem. We planted shrubbery for privacy and that has worked well for us. I do not worry when we have company nor when the neighbors are entertaining. Love our home and our life in The Villages.