[OCsun]

First let me say Hi to everyone here on this site. This is my first post but I have treasured all of the information and comments, I have found here.

My husband and I have a deposit on a lot in the Village of St. James. We may be in a position to build sooner than later and have plane tickets to fly to Florida Sept 15 - Oct 1. We have rented a home in TV and thought we would be able to take advantage of the 4% discount being offered for building north of 466a. It was our understanding if you were one of the first 200 people ready to make a commitment to build and commit to meet with the design team by September 30th, you would qualify for a 4% discount. WRONG!!!

Our sales representative just informed me that we can't get an appointment with the Design Team during our two week stay the end of September, since the are booked. This is very disappointing to us, because everything we have read and understood, was that the process of building a house in the Villages was easy and fun. Suddenly, the Friendliest Town is not feeling very friendly to me. My DH said that we will just keep our plans and if things are meant to be they will work out. If not, we will just wait and build in April of next year.

It is just very disappointing to me, but I guess the Villages is a business first and the Friendliest Town second.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

First, welcome to TOTV, OC!!

I'd suggest poking your sales person pretty hard about it. At a minimum, I'd hope they'd keep an eye on the schedule to see if anyone cancels out on their appointment so you could get in on it. Others here might have some additional ideas as well.

Hope it works out for you!!

Bill

[skyguy79]

Have you asked your sales person if making a purchase agreement while there or before and working out the details or nitty-gritty later on is an option? Don't hurt to ask if that's a possibility on your part!

[3puttharry]

Originally Posted by OCsun

First let me say Hi to everyone here on this site. This is my first post but I have treasured all of the information and comments, I have found here.

My husband and I have a deposit on a lot in the Village of St. James. We may be in a position to build sooner than later and have plane tickets to fly to Florida Sept 15 - Oct 1. We have rented a home in TV and thought we would be able to take advantage of the 4% discount being offered for building north of 466a. It was our understanding if you were one of the first 200 people ready to make a commitment to build and commit to meet with the design team by September 30th, you would qualify for a 4% discount. WRONG!!!

Our sales representative just informed me that we can't get an appointment with the Design Team during our two week stay the end of September, since the are booked. This is very disappointing to us, because everything we have read and understood, was that the process of building a house in the Villages was easy and fun. Suddenly, the Friendliest Town is not feeling very friendly to me. My DH said that we will just keep our plans and if things are meant to be they will work out. If not, we will just wait and build in April of next year.

It is just very disappointing to me, but I guess the Villages is a business first and the Friendliest Town second.

Welcome to St James. Our designer hs in St James is almost done. We close in early sept. We have heard of the design team but never had an appointment or met with anyone on the "design team". I think they were to busy. We went many times through many many models picking out everything from siding, roofing,floors, counters etc etc with only our sales rep and other times with(well that is another subject but with no design team). Assuming prior to booking flights and renting a hs for two weeks you were told you could be one of the 200,
then the next step is simple.... Your sales rep does the same thing as ours did for us. IF not I suggest you get another rep pronto. Ours was awesome

[angiefox10]

I don't care if I see the design team or not. I have seen enough homes, I'm pretty sure of what I want. We did a preliminary with our sales rep and nothing changed. Also... People, correct me if I'm wrong, but I was told the sales rep has to pay for you to go through that process. Doesn't make sense to me but that's what I was told.

[rubicon]

For those of you who purchase after 2006 cosider yourself fortunate. Because during the period of 2005-2006 TV was getting premium dollars for their homes without allowing buyers choice. You bought the house as you saw it. Some bought with a good lot and great view and gutted the interior and did it over. Very costly and no chance of recovery of their investment should they sell. As for me I told my sales rep what I wanted given their high demands and did get exactly what I wanted down to the last detail. In retrospect I should have looked elsewhere to see what I could have gotten for what I paid here

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by rubicon

For those of you who purchase after 2006 cosider yourself fortunate. Because during the period of 2005-2006 TV was getting premium dollars for their homes without allowing buyers choice. You bought the house as you saw it. Some bought with a good lot and great view and gutted the interior and did it over. Very costly and no chance of recovery of their investment should they sell. As for me I told my sales rep what I wanted given their high demands and did get exactly what I wanted down to the last detail. In retrospect I should have looked elsewhere to see what I could have gotten for what I paid here

Actually Rubicon, when we bought in June of 2008, building a home was NOT an option. You could buy the new homes already built and believe me, you could NOT change a thing in them. Cheerily, we asked our sales rep if we could change our smaller no ice in door refrigerator for a fancier one. Nope, not an option.

We bought the brand new Camellia, no washer and dryer, (some homes came with them) no blinds ( some homes came with them) and just enjoyed everything about it until we sold it last month.

Now Jackkel and his bride are living there and enjoying it.

And we are building. But we didn't do selections. I saw a model, and said...I want everything like this house. spit spot...and out.

Dear OCSun, don't trouble yourself about losing the discount. When the next neighborhood opens up, you will have a wider choice of lots and will be able to have the time to make your choices. And there is always some marketing discount going on... They have to keep the sales manager occupied.

It will be fine. I think they told you truthfully that the designers were booked. They are selling a LOT of houses these days.

You will see that this is indeed a friendly place.

Welcome to you.

Kindest wishes,

Gracie

[CarGuys]

We were given I thought a very nice option of a over the phone Design Team meeting from home. Your sales agent might be able to book that for you. I know one spot opened up because we bailed out.

Would have cost us to much to build early and let a home sit for 8 months until we got there, All the taxes, bonds MTG and utilities were more than forgeting the 4% and saving up money here not paying two mtg's

They were pushing us hard to close and like Gracie said above there was much of us asking " Can we change this please?" and a lot of Village Builder " No take it or leave it." Soooooooo being a pig headed I said we for the time will leave it.

Home sales in the Villages are like Nacho's- They will make more when your hungry. Or at least until they run out of land.

[birdawg]

Let's see if i got this right, you buy a lot which you are required to build on within a year, and then you find out how much the options are going to cost for the house you want. If the costs are more then expected you either pay or lose your deposit. Sounds like we are putting the cart before the horse Am i thinking correctly

[angiefox10]

No.... We already did a preliminary on our choices for our house, so we have a general idea as to the cost. Of course if we add options it will cost more.

[Kelsie52]

We built our home last year closed in Oct -----

We never met a design team ! We visited many models with our salesperson
(who was great ) --he gave us options and we picked our own

Its not like you are going to design something that no one else has here !!

I dont think that is a step that is required before they take YOUR money


Good Luck

[angiefox10]

Originally Posted by Kelsie52

We built our home last year closed in Oct -----

We never met a design team ! We visited many models with our salesperson
(who was great ) --he gave us options and we picked our own

Its not like you are going to design something that no one else has here !!

I dont think that is a step that is required before they take YOUR money


Good Luck

Thanks Kelsie 52...That's what I was wondering. I didn't see any reason for it. In fact.... I've been pretty much shopping on line by looking at the models on the web site!

[OCsun]

Our sales rep. is going to continue to watch the calendar for us and hopefully be able to make an appointment for us while we are there. She did confirm that it cost her $500 for us to have an appointment with the design team.

This is still all very confusing to me and I am looking forward to our return in September. I am sure things will work out and I feel lucky to have found this discussion group and all the friendly people on it. Thanks!

[angiefox10]

Originally Posted by OCsun

Our sales rep. is going to continue to watch the calendar for us and hopefully be able to make an appointment for us while we are there. She did confirm that it cost her $500 for us to have an appointment with the design team.

This is still all very confusing to me and I am looking forward to our return in September. I am sure things will work out and I feel lucky to have found this discussion group and all the friendly people on it. Thanks!

That's what my rep said... I didn't understand why it would cost the "rep" money for what I would think would make them more money... Oh well...

[zummy]

It does cost the sales rep part of his commision on a build but it is worth it for two reasons. He doesn;t have to spend a day of his valuable time and the knowledge of the design team is worth it. We just spent 6 hours in mid july ordering our Gardenia for lot 13 on Bradford loop. We wanted all the bumps and a three car garage. We weren't aware you could bump the master 2' and neither was the salesman. If you can use the design team , do it. You won't be sorrry. It may be the saleman that says there is no openings wants to save his money to your loss.