I don’t understand why if you like tile you wouldn’t want it everywhere. I spend 5 seconds on my bedroom floor, the time it takes me to get into bed. Tile is just fine and never cold also gives the house a much more cohesive feel.



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A cleaning nightmare under the bed and dust, dust, everywhere. Tile or Wood is much easier to live with.

The benefits we see are with tile or hard surfaces: Easy to clean, more durable (stays looking good), no places for little "buggy-boos" to hide.
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...on the other side... one will probably want to invest in slippers as the hard floors are tough on feet when standing for a period of time.

We have cats. LARGE, HAIRY, cats. 20+ lbs each. Maine Coons. Nuff' said about no carpet anywhere. Easy hair pickup, the Neato robovac goes everywhere with no issues (even under the bed), never have to worry about stains, water, etc. It makes life much easier.

We currently have a medium sized dog (that does not shed) and we have a Roomba. We love both ... but we love the dog more.

I would insist on more storage (closets), I would insist on floors that were not white, and I would insist on a different layout for our laundry room which is a waste of space.

Bigger garage, longer, wider, etc. At least 3 full cars.
Bigger lanai for entertaining.
Convienience to shopping.

Thank you for your honesty.

You cannot. You need to live there long enough to know who is friendly and who is not. There is a difference between being friendly and being friends.

Ditto to your comment. I come from an area where the amount of great restaurants is incredible. Of course it helps because Johnson and Wales Culinary School is based near our non winter home.

How do you find out before you buy is the neighborhood is a friendly one?

Very simple. Rent. Spend a month or more in a rental and ask lots of questions. Does the neighborhood have a web site? A social committee? News letters? Golf groups? Progressive dinners? Wine club? Driveway parties? House parties? Boccie groups? Pickle ball groups? Book clubs? What ever you're interests are is there a neighborhood group for it?

Some Villages do a lot, some a few things and some nothing. Figure out how many are full time and how many are snowbirds. You keep hearing about you should buy in a new village because you are all moving in together and can start those things. But think about this. The very first village built is about 95% full time and 5% snowbirds. The newest village is probably 25% full time and 75% very part time and lots of rentals. Guess which one has the most active village? As you get South around lake Sumter, it's probably 75% full time and by Brownwood maybe 50% full time.

So know and understand what kind of demographics live in the village you are considering buying in. Try renting there for a couple months. Does that size home work for you? Does that village work for you? Do those neighbors work for you? Is this an active village with lots of things going on that I like to do?

If you do these things you will get it right and not be moving 3 times like lots of folks who move here. It's very much worth the time and expense of taking these steps.

Tom C....I agree with #1, #2 & #3! In adding to that, my husband doesn't like sloping ceilings...so not sure which very open designer model that fits. Input appreciated! Then, based on other Villager posts, a 3 car garage may be necessary. (He wants a 57 Chevy and I want something sportier!). But the wisest posting said: "Whatever the wife wants".:icon_wink:

If we decide to relocate to TV, the house would have to have the following:

1. bedroom for myself
2. library/hobby room/ computer room for myself
3. bedroom for my husbaqnd
4. den/computer room for my husband

Formal dining room can be #2 or #4 above. Covered and AC lanai can be #2 or #4 above.

We firmly believe in allowing each of us own space and own TV.

1) Golf cart garage (or a bigger garage)
2) A screened in area big enough for a grill and a hot tub
3) Cul de Sac location with nobody behind me