[cynkr67]

Hello. Looking for any words of wisdom from those of you who have built here in TV. We have put a deposit on a lot and plan to start building this fall. Anyone out there have any cautions or helpful hints about the building process? Also, trying to decide which upgrades are best done during construction and which ones we can put off for a year or two using local businesses & contractors. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!!

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by cynkr67

Hello. Looking for any words of wisdom from those of you who have built here in TV. We have put a deposit on a lot and plan to start building this fall. Anyone out there have any cautions or helpful hints about the building process? Also, trying to decide which upgrades are best done during construction and which ones we can put off for a year or two using local businesses & contractors. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!!

Make sure you know exactly where any utilities will be placed if any. Know the placement of the home on the lot. Place careful consideration on things that wont be able to be changed. Once they start building and you find out your neighbor is 10 feet away or THERES A TRANSFORMER BOX 8 FEET FROM YOUR BACK DOOR, your s.o.l.

[redwitch]

If you can, go for the extended garage and golf cart garage now. You'll never regret having those two items.

[graciegirl]

Get as much space as you reasonably can afford. Decide how much money you want to spend on rear privacy. It is claustrophobic for some to back closely to neighbors. The property with "kissing lanai's" is the least expensive but many move later because they find it too close for comfort. Others love the closeness.

Remember we spend a lot of time outdoors, enlarge your lanai if you can.

Get as big a garage as you can afford. It is your basement and garage and your storage area.

The model you like best will be about the same price wherever you build. It is the lot location and size and view that add dollars. The lot can add as much as much as $150K to a designer home.

Lots that back on streets cost more than lots that back onto other homes. Corner lots are premiums too. It is a different world of home selection here.

But we are so happy with our decisions in both of the new homes we have had here.

Keep asking questions. You are wise to research.

[elevatorman]

We did not get a washer, dryer, or blinds. We arranged to have the blinds we wanted installed the day after settelment. Went to Lowes and had a washer & dryer delivered and installed the next day. Wish we had the garage made larger but did not think of it. Once you move in don't rush to get things done. By that I am speaking of all the people who will be trying to sell you something. Like water softeners, landscaping, palm trees, lawn service, bug treatment, irrigation maintenance..... You can live a few months without most and never pay in advance.

[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by redwitch

If you can, go for the extended garage and golf cart garage now. You'll never regret having those two items.

Be aware that if you bump out to the side it may require a premium lot $$$$ due to set backs and property widths.

On some models you can bump out to front to get the space you need.

[cynkr67]

Good advice from every one of you!! Thanks for your input. Now trying to decide between an Iris and a Gardenia with extended garage and front bedroom. Anyone want to chime in?? Cynthia

[bonrich]

Take your time!! Use up fully the appointment you have with the design team, and take more if you are not quite satisfied. Do not be concerned about asking a lot of questions, because if you don't ask or question, I feel they ain't gonna tell you. I feel the design team is under a lot of pressure to finish and move on to the next buyer. Also, don't suppose you are getting whatever it is. I always say if you don't see it you are not getting it. Example being, we have a 30' lanai, and I thought we were getting two fans. Not so, only one, so now I have the added expense of installing another fan and hoping they can feed the wires through to make it look like it was planned instead of an after thought.

Go back if necessary to look at the model homes set up for a final decision.
Do your stretches, if you feel the room sizes are not quite enough, front, back, lanai, and if the model and lot can do it, stretch width.

Don't forget, once you sign the bottom line, it's over and it will be costly if changes are made to the contract. You don't want to say, I wish we would have.........

[Sable99]

I closed on my Iris two weeks ago today!! I stretched the garage two feet and the lanai four feet. Luckily, my lot was able to do the lanai stretch and I don't have anyone directly behind me. The lanai turned out amazing!

My advice is to do some research before your meeting with the design team. I think it helps to have an idea of what you like before that meeting. I knew I wanted the stainless french door refrigerator so that set the standard for those appliances. I knew I wanted granite but I hadn't decided on what color. The granite yard was a little overhwelming. The fixtures never occurred to me!! Melissa from the Design Team must have taken me and my aunt to 50 different homes. We looked at different tile in some homes, different lights in others and different faucet fixtures in others. It was an exhausting two days! And, I love looking at homes! Melissa was a wealth of information and very patient.

Another thing to think about is the outlets and faucets. I had them remove the cable outlet in the kitchen and put an additional outlet in the 3rd bedroom as it is going to be my TV room. I added an extra outdoor faucet to the rear of my home. It was a lot cheaper to do it when they were building.

There were some things I wanted that I gave up because of the $$$. But, I do wish I would have put an instant hot water faucet in the kitchen. I didn't think of it until after the closing and I was back in Michigan! I sure would hate to have someone drill through the granite now to install one! And, I wished I would have put an additional outlet in the foyer. The outlet would be off center because of the pocket door but it is a wonderful space for my curio cabinet! It is going to cost me at least $200 to do it now.

I am thrilled with my choices. My house turned out beautiful!! Unfortunately, I am going to rent it out until I can move to TV full time.

It was pretty hectic after the closing too!! I was only going to be at TV for a few days after my closing. TV gave me 5 days to prepare a list of things in my house that I wanted them to look at. TV also wanted me to meet with Munn's who installed the furnace/AC, Massey who did the initial pest control and the company that did the irrigation system.

Most of the items on my list for TV was cosmetic. I left before they were done but my keyholder told me they were done in two days! The painters are coming on Monday to do a couple of touch up spots.

[Jim 9922]

Build the front room in the Gardenia with all the extra bumps you can. The addition of a bay really adds to that room if you can add it. If the bump is large enough consider adding a closet in the front room.
The garage will never be large enough so add wherever you can, including depth. My real estate friends tell me that a cart garage is almost a must for reselling Designers at good prices, so the extra holds its value..
Before going full blast at design, I suggest that you tour lots of open houses of the model styles you are considering. You will see lots of both good and bad design applications, including colors, bumps, custom modifications, plumbing treatments, carpet vs tile or wood, partial or whole houseetc.
You can always put in landscaping later so get the minimum. Tour existing areas of different build years and see all the things that can go wrong, and right, in landscaping. Be especially observant as to the size mature plantings get, maintenance required and how many planting are too close to the home for the size and quantity planted.
If you build a Gardenia consider adding a floor outlet in the kitchen area so you can add a small island with power later in the open area near the sink and stove.
I can't stress it enough, take the time and tour existing homes and learn from others.
Have fun!

[mjdollard]

My apologies, I don't mean to get off topic but as a lurker hoping to build next year I have noticed several posts that refer to blinds when building. Does the builder do something special with blinds ? Why would that be part of construction? Thanks for your posts, I am taking notes as fast as I can.

[Carmpat]

Standard blinds are provided but you have to pay for them. We selected an Iris option A off the laundry room as it gives us the extra room. The blinds cost $1100. They only come in white or begie. We decided to get our own vertical blinds for both of the sliders in the Iris model and we bought the rest of the wooden blind package. We were told the blinds don't last long and only hold up for about 3 yrs. Also in the Iris we took out 2 side windows as you don't need 4 windows in the master bedroom. In the nook area we also took out the side window for more wall space. They gave us credit for that plus the blinds.

[Count'n the days]

Can someone give me an estimate of the cost of adding a golf cart garage to a Lily? We have reserved a lot that will allow for this addition and was under the impression that was a good portion of the cost, but still would like to know how much more to budget. Thanks.

[jimbo2012]

Some where about 6K-9K

[cynkr67]

Just want to thank everyone for the wonderful advice. Gives me alot to think about!! Already met several future neighbors in Buttonwood and looking forward to meeting more!!