[GOLFER54]

I love my home, my neighbors and the friends I’ve made here over the years.
I keep up with the maintenance of my home, enjoy the entertainment afforded to us in The Villages and am very glad I made the decision to live here going on 16 years.

[Skunky1]

Had the same thing happen on my house built about the same time in the Bonniebrook area. When we replace the microwave we found it wasn’t vented to the outside. It actually wasn’t vented anywhere.

When selecting an house once you’ve committed to A contract you have a 10 day inspection period. Use the time to inspect the area by that I mean look for the locations of the sewage treatment facilities, The location of the railroad tracks proximity of I-75 and the turnpike. These things could make your life very miserable once you’re moved in. Good luck!

[mydavid]

Originally Posted by Dond1959

Compared to other homes I have built I would say the homes are of “average” quality with no major issues and very responsive to fix anything that goes wrong in the first year. You can build outside the Villages and get more home for your money, but, it is all the activities and things to do that the Villages blows away there competition as demonstrated in their annual sales of new homes.

When we compared all the 55+ places in the state we always kept comparing them to the Villages and for us the Villages always came out on top. It’s funny the original post mentioned OTOW in Ocala. That was the place we visited before the Villages and it was like crickets there with no one outside. The next day we come to the Villages and there are people everywhere. They are walking, riding bikes, in golf carts, playing golf, pickle ball, at the squares, etc. The first few hours we just went around with our mouths open, we couldn’t believe it. There are pros and cons with any place, but this place checks off most everything we want.

I lived at the TOTW for 10 years, no doubt dollar for dollar much better built homes (all homes are cinder block) and you get to pick your finishes. Life style much more laid back. In TV you have a life style un match any place, the draw back is the size and the traffic.

[Toymeister]

The average home carries a thirty percent premium in TV, more or less.

The homes are built to code and generally no better. That is not necessarily bad but it does mean that, on a stucco home, you will have 1/2" styrene insulation in the walls (not 1") with no insulation in the cinder blocks, all homes (unless upgraded) will have a less efficient single stage HVAC, and minimal attic venting. All TV homes have builder grade windows like nearly all tract homes. Most homes have tiny lots or carry a large premium.

Do these things make a dramatic difference? No not really, for most people.

[NoMo50]

You can get a LOT more home for the buck in the middle of the desert than you can in Las Vegas, too. It's all about location, amenities, and lifestyle. Pick up a $500k Designer home in The Villages, and plop it on the coast in Boca, and suddenly you're talking millions. Trying to compare home prices in different locales is apples and oranges. We moved into TV for the whole package, not simply the block walls and roof.

[jbrown132]

Originally Posted by Misky1951

I've always heard that you get more home for your dollar outside TV.

My cousin visited and we looked at several retirement communities from leesburg to ocala.

The only new homes were at Top of the World. Looking at homes in both totw and TV in the $250-300k range, the quality was much better in totw. Have to say I was disappointed in the new home quality in the st Catherine area.

But there were no comparison on activities with TV. Not even close.

So it comes down to lifestyle. For me. It was the activities. I think my cousin feels the same way.

When we visited all these retirement areas, I never revealed that I was from TV. It was interesting to hear the locals talk about TV. A lot of crazy stories!

I have a friend that lives in the Del Web community off 441/27. He chose there because he felt he got more bang for the buck and felt it was smaller with a lot less traffic. He says they also have a lot of clubs to join. They have there own golf course and in the winter prefers to play outside because the conditions are better and the price is cheaper. In looking at TV he had heard winter conditions were not great, the winter rates were expensive and the need really for a priority membership to him was not worth it. Finally, he says he can come over to TV anytime he wants and enjoy the entertainment on the squares, eat at any of the restaurants he wants, come and watch the parades etc. etc. So I guess it’s a personal choice. Some people like the hustle and bustle of TV, while others prefer a quieter life style, but my friend doesn’t seem to be missing much.

[rockyhyder]

We did a lifestyle visit with On Top Of The World before buying in TV. The resale value on those houses is horrific. We chose TV because of the lifestyle and our 1995 Courtyard Villa construction quality is top notch!

[Lisanp@aol.com]

The new model homes at TOTW are really beautiful, and much less expensive then TV. I'm sure the "quality" of construction is similar to TV as stucco over block in Central Florida is a pretty standard thing. The main differences are in the floor-plans offered and the finishing, IMO. You get some really nice high-end finishes such as 8' interior doors/9.5' ceilings, 42" cabinets, granite, tile, crown molding, etc. standard on their estate series homes. Yes, you can add these items at build to a TV home, but they are STANDARD in the base price at TOTW. They also have some maintenance included communities there which is a huge plus for us and something I wish TV would get the memo on. The downside is that the amenities are old and minimal. Yes, they are building new ones, but they will still be minimal for the size of the community IMO. We visited for a morning sales tour and during the 2.5 hours we were there, I was yelled at by three separate people - I have never seen a larger concentration of miserable, grumpy, old people in my life. We got in the car and sped away - quick!

[Neils]

Originally Posted by RICH1

Non-union Electricians never receive the UNION training

Right, most get trade school certification instead

[Tmarkwald]

Originally Posted by Skunky1

Had the same thing happen on my house built about the same time in the Bonniebrook area. When we replace the microwave we found it wasn’t vented to the outside. It actually wasn’t vented anywhere.

When selecting an house once you’ve committed to A contract you have a 10 day inspection period. Use the time to inspect the area by that I mean look for the locations of the sewage treatment facilities, The location of the railroad tracks proximity of I-75 and the turnpike. These things could make your life very miserable once you’re moved in. Good luck!

Yeah, the microwave thing was wierd. The hole was cut in the drywall correctly, but about 2" to the left of where it should have been. The vent was installed and the siding done around it (mine is stick-built) but the vent was full of wasp nests since it was never used. They just put a plate over the hole behind the vent when they realized their mistake. The microwave had the rear exhaust dole cut in the metal, so they were ready. But in defense of them, whoever ran the gas line there messed up also. They probably marked the floor wrong when they made the marks for utilities, etc...

I was pleasantly surprised to see that the siding is all very well-insulated siding. When i replaced the thermostat we didn't have AC for about 4 hours while I was on the phone trying to get an issue with the dehumidifier fixed. The home stayed very cool, only rising by 1 degree over 4 hours. Very happy with the insulation and that also helps keep the house quiet.

[OhioBuckeye]

Originally Posted by Misky1951

I've always heard that you get more home for your dollar outside TV.

My cousin visited and we looked at several retirement communities from leesburg to ocala.

The only new homes were at Top of the World. Looking at homes in both totw and TV in the $250-300k range, the quality was much better in totw. Have to say I was disappointed in the new home quality in the st Catherine area.

But there were no comparison on activities with TV. Not even close.

So it comes down to lifestyle. For me. It was the activities. I think my cousin feels the same way.

When we visited all these retirement areas, I never revealed that I was from TV. It was interesting to hear the locals talk about TV. A lot of crazy stories!

Maybe it’s me butI agree with you but presently we live I a subdivision in around Denton & Justin, TX. & the homes here are throw away homes in about 5 to 10 yrs. Things get replaced starting from a yr. after you buy a home. We’re from Ohio & we built 9 homes there & we lived in all of them from 10 months to 17 yrs. & I can honestly say we never had to do a thing to any of them. The biggest issue we ever had was the builder forgot to take out plugs from vent pipes on top of house that was after the house was 7 yrs. old. Told builder about it & he was there within an hour, & never charged us a cent & he was very apologetic about it. Yes, it’s a shame that they build & charge you hundreds of thousands of dollars & then it’s your baby to fix & repair!

[msilagy]

Unless you are a builder or can see thru these walls of your home not sure how people can judge construction. I once had a service provider make a call on my home that used to work for construction building homes in the villages - He told me these homes were built so fast that the concrete base wasn't even dry when they started building on top of it - they were told if a mistake was made figure out a way to work around it without taking the time to correct it. So all these owners who say all is well really have to idea of the construction mishaps. Reminds me of "my Dr is great" not because he is but because he has a pleasing personality.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by Dond1959

Compared to other homes I have built I would say the homes are of “average” quality with no major issues and very responsive to fix anything that goes wrong in the first year. You can build outside the Villages and get more home for your money, but, it is all the activities and things to do that the Villages blows away there competition as demonstrated in their annual sales of new homes.

When we compared all the 55+ places in the state we always kept comparing them to the Villages and for us the Villages always came out on top. It’s funny the original post mentioned OTOW in Ocala. That was the place we visited before the Villages and it was like crickets there with no one outside. The next day we come to the Villages and there are people everywhere. They are walking, riding bikes, in golf carts, playing golf, pickle ball, at the squares, etc. The first few hours we just went around with our mouths open, we couldn’t believe it. There are pros and cons with any place, but this place checks off most everything we want.

There is no shortage of posters with opinions but no knowledge. I do not claim knowledge but our previous home, in New York was built in 1948. Materials in the home
real plaster walls, copper plumbing, real oak flooring, lumber that you simply cannot buy today. Gas was run through iron (soft steel) pipe not plastic tubing. They don't make them like they used to and we would not pay what it would cost to do it. Amusing reality
standard construction lumber a 2x4 is smaller than it was in 1948.

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by Misky1951

I've always heard that you get more home for your dollar outside TV.

My cousin visited and we looked at several retirement communities from leesburg to ocala.

The only new homes were at Top of the World. Looking at homes in both totw and TV in the $250-300k range, the quality was much better in totw. Have to say I was disappointed in the new home quality in the st Catherine area.

But there were no comparison on activities with TV. Not even close.

So it comes down to lifestyle. For me. It was the activities. I think my cousin feels the same way.

When we visited all these retirement areas, I never revealed that I was from TV. It was interesting to hear the locals talk about TV. A lot of crazy stories!

Most people, when they talk about “quality,” mean the quality of the kitchen cabinets and the faucets, or what nice little extras they get without perceiving that they are paying extra. Perhaps they mean drywall in the garage or architectural quality shingles instead of cheaper shingles that won’t last as long. Unfortunately, most know nothing about quality construction. A lot of contractors and builders do things the way they always have, rather than constantly studying, learning about new and better methods and products. Would you want a heart surgeon who does things they way they were done in 1980? You shouldn’t! Building practices today are much better and more complicated than they used to be.

For example, what is the rating of the windows? Are they heat reflecting so the house will stay cooler? What is the rating of the frames? How much insulation is in the walls and ceilings? How is air flow maintained from the soffit venting in the attic? Is the insulation just the bare minimum, or well beyond it? (Lots of people here could be spending $100 a month less on cooling in the summer if they had proper insulation.) If the walls are stick built, how are they bolted to the slab? How will they respond in a hurricane? How are the roof trusses attached to the walls? Are they thoroughly strapped down or just nailed? If the walls are concrete block, is there rebar running from the slab to the roof, and are the cavities where the rebar runs filled with concrete? If the walls are stick built, what sort of sheathing is used? Is it attached according to the exact prescribed nail pattern, and do the nails actually go into the studs, or is the carpenter just guessing with a nail gun? On the roof sheathing, the nail pattern is especially important, and the nails have to go into the trusses. That doesn’t happen without measuring and marking. How is the flashing done around windows to keep out rain? I’ve seen so many carpenters do this wrong, and it’s the homeowner pays. I’ve made carpenters pull out half a dozen big windows and start over. How tight is the house? How many air flows per hour? Was a blower test done? What is the quality of the vents in the bathroom? Are they quiet, and do they exhaust a lot of air? Is there a range hood over the stove that vents outside and is quiet, or do cooking smells fill the house? What about the water heater and air conditioner and heater? Are they the minimum or are they the best energy saving versions? Top quality can save you a LOT of money.

I could go on for a long time about this. I love The Villages, and my 22 year old house is working well, though it needs a lot more insulation, which I will have blown in next fall. However, I’m not sure if ANY homes built in this part of the state follow the best practices unless they are custom built for someone who knows about these things and demands them and pays for them. Quality is more than just what we see when we walk into a house.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Skunky1

Had the same thing happen on my house built about the same time in the Bonniebrook area. When we replace the microwave we found it wasn’t vented to the outside. It actually wasn’t vented anywhere.

When selecting an house once you’ve committed to A contract you have a 10 day inspection period. Use the time to inspect the area by that I mean look for the locations of the sewage treatment facilities, The location of the railroad tracks proximity of I-75 and the turnpike. These things could make your life very miserable once you’re moved in. Good luck!

A microwave doesn't need to be vented anywhere. But, it has an internal fan and duct system that allows the cooktop to be vented through the microwave to either the outside or into the kitchen through a filter. It is not a construction defect for the contractor to use either option.