But, it's pretty damm close. Name a place that doesn't have a few problems.

If one is researching on here and Facebook then they will think the Villages is a horrible place. It is nothing like what I see online. I've not yet met a bitter angry unfriendly person in the Villages.

My wife has met a few... But she's like a "Shell no-pest strip" for crazy people... She seems to attract them... :loco:

But the only bitter, angry or unfriendly people I've encountered is on this site...

Agree, everyone should do their research before making a major decision to relocate anywhere. I probably went way overboard with my homework and research on TV. Almost daily, for five straight years before relocating here, I was online reading, watching, researching everything and anything I could get my hands on regarding TV, the three county area, and Florida in general. By the time of my lifestyle visit in the summer of 2022, I felt I had a real good handle and understanding of TV, how it operates, deeds and restrictions, costs, demographics and politics of the area, construction standards, future growth plans, weather and climate, etc, etc.

No location is perfect, and you can pick apart any community. The only surprises to me after moving here have been mostly positive ones (usually in areas where my high expectations were exceeded). For those who are not happy here, I am truly sorry that your homework and research did not fully “vet out” your concerns. TV is not for everyone, but for the vast majority of us who have made this community our home, we feel this place is pretty special!

I would agree with your statement - some of the posters on this site are in no way representative of the vast majority of happy, content villagers. I guess that makes some sense, since there are some who post here who don’t even live in TV, or spend very little time here.

Have you estimated the cost to move it yet (assuming your up north)? You might change your mind?

Florida Decor
 

For sure you need to be comfortable with your choices for you. That said, Florida decor is a little different than what some are used to. Paying thousands to move a large pile of stuff may not always be ideal. Many find the old furniture doesn’t fit in with the new place. Next thing you know they are selling or giving away furniture for pennies on the dollar and paying for new “Florida” furniture. The insult is, they paid to move it all down here too!

Don’t be the person who has to have mattresses and junk piled at the end of their drives on trash pick up days for months on end.

Our mover (who is a close friend) advised us to compare the cost of the move to the cost of replacing our furniture.

Replacing our bedroom set alone would have cost more than our entire move.

And the Mediterranean style fits perfectly in our Florida home...

Shop Around
 

With stores like Bargains & Treasures, you don't have to buy brand-new at sticker-shock prices.

Somehow I can't get over the yuck factor of buying something that was discarded for whatever reason. Almost Perfect is good for selling junk.

I don't have any issue with case goods (tables, night stands, etc.), but soft goods (sofas, beds, upholstered chairs, etc.) are a hard stop for me.

You had a book full of plans?
 

++++++++++

It would be SO helpful if there were a book or digital downloads available for all the floor plans that are here in the Villages. There are SO many! :oops: It can get so confusing. When you mentioned you came down with a book full of plans, if that is something you found, please tell me where I can get one of those! Thanks!

Always check your Villages paperwork before calling around on any upgrades/fixes. I just saved a ton of money on AC repairs with Sunkool because they have a contract with the Villages. For me it was over 1k in savings and the AC unit is back cooling the house again.

Regarding furniture: you can look at photos (and even 3-D images) of homes in the Villages via their own sales website, and the various realty websites. It'll give you an idea of the kinds of furnishings that you -could- get for your new home, and possible layouts of the furnishings. All the furniture you see can be bought from any of the local stores, though City Furniture has a bad reputation for delays and non-deliveries, and overpricing. One important thing: make sure your TV isn't facing a window on the opposite wall unless you have shade trees blocking the sunlight through that window. You'll have to either watch TV only at night, or keep the shades/curtains drawn all day, just to avoid the glare. Glare here is pretty horrible.

Most of my furniture came from my house up north because I don't care about "fashion trends" for interiors. I care about comfort, both physical and emotional. We like solid wood, we like antiques, so that's mostly what we have. We also brought our his & hers La-Z-Boys, because we'll be dead from old age before they break. We're in our early 60's and the chairs are 30 years old already.

What are some of the top items villagers do to their new homes after they move in ?