[Chinook]

I'm going to buy my retirement dream home within the year. I have been renting during my vacations for years to make sure TV is where I want to retire. I knew it the first time I visited TV! I have decided on a designer home, either an Aspen, Gardenia or Begonia, stucco. My question is this: what is the quality of these homes? I have studied them to the extent I can on a vacation. I would like your input as to the level of quality these homes are built to, my concern is how fast they throw them up and all the different contractors building them. How do you know you got a good contractor? Are they built to the standard or above? What are your experiences with the components of the homes, eg. HVAC system, electrical, plumbing, exteriors, roofs, finish work, appliances....do they use chinese sheetrock? Thank you.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

All homes are built to current code requirements and must pass all inspections.

No Chinese drywall has been used in TV homes..........to the best of my knowledge. We had the same concern a few years back when we started looking at TV seriously - other developments had the drywall issues. But I could never find anything connecting Chinese drywall with any TV construction.

Bill

[Chinook]

thanks Bill, do most buyers have the home inspected by their own home inspector before closing?

[jimbo2012]

I doubt it, I'm buying this summer/fall, when I was there last month I walked thru the new builds.

I consider myself somewhat knowledgeable having 3 houses built under my supervision in NY.

I was pleasantly surprised at the builds I walked thru in various early stages

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by Chinook

thanks Bill, do most buyers have the home inspected by their own home inspector before closing?

Not before closing but at your one year mark. There were several things the inspector found that we missed tear in the floor, and one was an electric issue that would have run into some $. It was money well spent.

[graciegirl]

I think they do a very good job building. It is done quickly but expertly and there are teams that work together all of the time. I doubt if they have much turnover. Two houses are building right now very close to us, one across the street and one behind us.

I counted 16 men laying cement block. The block was delivered day before and set down in exact locations all around the house. It seems that one guy builds his own section all the way up.

The roofers were the same, their own specific team of frame roofers and then a different team of shinglers. They have a team that measures and sets posts after the lot is surveyed and then a different team that digs footers, and then a bunch that pours concrete. There are the crane operators that are different from the back hoe people and a group of interior framers that are different from the roof framers. There is a woman carpenter I saw on the interior frame group in one house. I was kinda pleased to see that. ANd all the time the main boss who is called the builder is checking things several times a day. At the end of the day in our house he would leave instructions.. He had them tear out finish tile in the kitchen and do it again.

When the underground piping was laid, it was delivered the night before.
There is never a gap in the process or a day off. Some teams are there on some weekends. They stop at five thirty but many will continue for some time after. The construction site is tidied and wood stacked at the end of the day and the home swept inside and debris collected from lunches each day. Some paper and lunch stuff does blow into our yard but that is to be expected. I don't see any bottles just tossed on the site from their water or soda.

We too have built many new homes in our lifetime and this is the most amazing build we have witnessed. Every person has his part and he appears on cue, at the right time and does his thing until the next person and his bunch take over.

We are more than satisfied.

On both houses there was little to fix and they did it the NEXT DAY from notification being received and processed.
We think the components are fine. Did have problem with new refrigerator and I think there was construction debris left in water line that was not flushed before water hook up . Have had some settling cracks in concrete. I think that is to be expected.

[keithwand]

We have 1 long crack in the foundation that runs from the french doors in the MBR through the bedroom under a wall throught the master closet and maybe into the master bath.
Since the bath floor is now tiled its hard to say.
Thankfully and greatfully we had 2 neighbors see it and our neighbor called so we could drive out and look and take pictures for documentation.
I'm told it will be addressed and probably have epoxy inserted into the crack.
My concern is if its gets worse can the crack run into the lanai and the pool or cause other issues.
Other than that we are very pleased at what we see and should be in earlier than expected.
Regarding inspection- we will do it at the anniversay date as we did for our Orlando home.

[bonrich]

As far as a independent home inspection, yes it can be done before closing. We have had two independent home inspections done on two homes in TV before closing. One was a model home in Pennecamp and this one in Sanibel which closed on Feb 29th. In our Pennecamp home our inspector found a number of issues, many cosmetic. All this was found and submitted prior to closing.

We had a independent inspection done before closing in Sanibel and the findings, which were minimal, again mostly cosmetic was submitted to our realtor and given to the builder to be addressed by closing. Then within 30 days after closing, at the request of the builder, we made a list of other items to be addressed and those were submitted to the Home Warranty Office and were quickly taken care of. Only one caveat, concerning tile grout cracks, we were advised to wait until the end of our first year to turn in any concerns because we are allowed just one visit to repair those issues.

Also, it is recommended to do a final inspection before your year anniversary.

[mickey100]

We have been pleased with our home quality, with the exception of the windows. We have a designer block and stucco, built around 2005, and we have not found the windows to be as soundproof as the windows in our previous home .

[justjim]

We were one of the first to build in our Village, therefore, got to watch a number of homes go up around our new home. Overall, the contractors do a great job. I would give most parts of the construction process an A. However, two parts I would give a B and they are concrete and landscaping. From my observations they could do better with concrete if they gave more time and effort to the base prior to pouring the concrete. On the landscaping, again more time and effort to what is in the yard prior to laying of the sod and putting in place the trees and bushes. With just a little more time and effort some annoying cracks in the concrete might be avoided and also so called "hot spots" in the yard. My expertise in these areas is limited and these are only my observations.

[keithwand]

I will agree re cracks although my builder called at my request and assured me the crack was filled with epoxy before carpeting.

He has been great and very friendly.

Landscaping- my wife did not want any crape myrtles because they lose their leafs in the winter.

The landscaper called and she told him what she would prefer and if it was available in the package she would like Magnolias and Laurel Oak. etc. and they gave us PLENTY of privacy around the pool and all in all did a fantastic job.

Our closing date is moved up 3 weeks early and we will take it.

[angel222]

I have owned my designer (Iris) since 2009 and have been very satisfied with the construction and the repairs I needed before the year warranty was up. The only negative I can see is the rugs used in the designers ... It's not great quality and already two rugs have several "ripples" in them and need to be stretched - an additional expense I've never encountered before in any of my 7 previous homes with wall to wall carpeting. Several other owners of designers I know have had the same problem.

[PatandBob]

We have a Begonia. Overall the construction itself is good. It's definitely a well built house.

But it needs to have some decent finish work. If I could have a wish list - more options on the light fixtures, better quality of the appliances and cabinets. And how I wish we could of upgraded the carpeting. We've only lived here a few months and the carpet has not held up at all. For as pricey as these houses are, add a few more $$$ and put in quality carpet for heaven's sake. (oh and TWO towel racks in each bathroom. I mean, seriously ... one rack? )