[graciegirl]

;D :joke: Hugs to you CurlyQ! That link to all of the house plans is JUST what I had been looking for. I am just getting to LOVE the kind helpful attitude of all of you....Come on, tell me. Did you all grow up in the South end of Columbus OHIO? Hugs to each and all.
GracieGirl.

[samhass]

As I have said before, I think you should buy the largest house available in your price range.
I don't think you'll regret it.

[SteveFromNY]

Originally Posted by samhass

As I have said before, I think you should buy the largest house available in your price range.
I don't think you'll regret it.

Sam - that's a good thought, but you may want to caveat it a little. Size and price range are only 2 of the factors. Some folks want room for a pool, others want a view, some want the privacy of a CYV. Those factors will also influence price, and availability of larger designs.

Personally, I wanted concrete, and an open kitchen plan. Size was a factor (I did get the biggest I could afford) but it was only after factoring in the floor plan and construction.

[JohnN]

what did you get, Steve?

[SteveFromNY]

Originally Posted by JohnN

what did you get, Steve?

We bought a Gardenia in 2005. It's in Liberty Park on a slightly larger than standard interior lot. Absolutely love it!

[dandj]

We are coming down to look in May, and I am interested in the comment about needing to buy a courtyard because pet couldn't handle electric fence, cv was only option. Is that true?

[SteveFromNY]

Originally Posted by dandj

We are coming down to look in May, and I am interested in the comment about needing to buy a courtyard because pet couldn't handle electric fence, cv was only option. Is that true?

Certainly not the only option for having a pet. Plenty of folks in all kinds of houses have pets. A CYV is the only option if you want to let the pet free in the yard, as they are the only homes with fences.

[JohnN]

dandj
it's the only option for a fence
either a frame or CBS courtyard

[graciegirl]

Would anyone share how much a birdcage (extended lanai) might cost on average, without a pool. I guess that would include the cement under it. Can one have a birdcage with partly grass under it too? I read earlier here from several people that living outdoors is what many people enjoy about living in Florida and that made sense. Also, someone gave me a good link to Lyle Gant's realtor site that has even a MAP of the villages and the floor plans of all of the home. I thank that person again!! I printed all of the designer floor plans and found only three different ones for ranches. Is that all of the ranches there are to build? I prefer a designer, actually I prefer a Premier, but people in hell want icewater too. lol. Will they allow a "kick" or an extension on most homes if the lot allows? If anyone knows how much it has been lately per square foot to extend a home, would you share that information too??

What a great place this is to ask annoying questions!!

I throw myself on your kindness again. GracieGirl.

[Villages Kahuna]

It doesn't take too much research to determine that those ubiquitous birdcage enclosures so common over pools and enclosing patios around TV are both pretty sophisticated structures and not as cheap as they look. The aluminum and fibreglass-screened birdcages are designed to withstand winds of up to 120 mph. The screening is designed to blow out with 75 mph winds, reducing the load on the remaining structure. The metal parts of birdcages are constructed of "prime" aluminum (not re-melted, re-formed aluminum). The price of such aluminum has increased pretty significantly in recent years.

I'm not in the aluminum business, but my research indicates that the birdcages we see around here will likely cost somewhere in the range of $20 per square foot to construct. The cost of the concrete deck would be in addition to that amount.

So, boiling it down to real numbers, a 25 by 40 foot birdcage enclosure--about the size that would cover the typical Villages pool--woud cost pretty close to $20,000 plus the cost of the concrete deck to build. While that sounds expensive, it's actually a pretty cheap way to add 1,000 square feet of living space to your house.

If someone has "better" numbers than these, I would be happy to cede to better or more accurate information.

[JohnN]

kahuna, your facts sound pretty straight,
I've read elsewhere that $25 per foot is a conservative estimate
concrete additional I think, and I also believe you can leave some dirt in there if you'd like

[SteveFromNY]

What benefit is there to scale in a birdcage? In other words, if I build a very large one will the unit cost drop? Will a small one be substantially higher?
I ask because I am thinking of adding a small birdcage to my lanai of only about 100 sq ft. I haven't priced it yet, but based on what I am hearing here, I could expect to pay between $2000 and $2500 for the frame and screen. What do you think?

[captain1202]

Brightspot01.....

You are describing a Lantana (block)/Juniper(vinyl). The laundry room is large enough for a little hobby center or pantry. Good size garage, huge (12x20) Lanai. Check it out. AND the bedrooms are larger than Gardenia in case you want a dual use office/bedroom.

[renielarson]

Thanks captain! You just saved me from having to do the research myself! I'll check it out.

[graciegirl]

Mr. Kahuna sir:

Thank you so much for an excellent and informative answer. You have no idea how that helps us form our want list.

I can't help but think you would be the dream salesman for the "birdcage" company and/or much wanted as a wordsmith anywhere. As the grandmother of a budding journalist I take my hat off to you. Would you share your vocation in your past life?

Thank you so much for the information, the math and the kindness!!

GracieGirl et al.