[ssmith]

Here's another question. I hear a lot about villas and designer homes but not so much about cottage homes. I am not talking about the expensive ones at LSL but the smaller cottage homes.

What do you think of the cottage homes? I can see that they have 2 car garages and no kissing lanai's. Do you like them? Does someone live in one? Do you like it? What do you like about it? Are your neighbors friendly? Do you like the finishes offered in a cottage? Are you able to choose finishes? I noticed they opened the kitchen in the one called "at Ease". Does anyone have this design or know anything about it?

We are keeping all our options open and love hearing your wise imput.
Thanks

[golfnut]

cottages, ranch homes, villas, designers, premiers... there are a lot of names but the bottom line is you have to decide what works best for you, we saw value in all of them....gn

Originally Posted by ssmith

Here's another question. I hear a lot about villas and designer homes but not so much about cottage homes. I am not talking about the expensive ones at LSL but the smaller cottage homes.

What do you think of the cottage homes? I can see that they have 2 car garages and no kissing lanai's. Do you like them? Does someone live in one? Do you like it? What do you like about it? Are your neighbors friendly? Do you like the finishes offered in a cottage? Are you able to choose finishes? I noticed they opened the kitchen in the one called "at Ease". Does anyone have this design or know anything about it?

We are keeping all our options open and love hearing your wise imput.
Thanks

We have an "At Ease" and absolutely love it!!

[ceejay]

Originally Posted by ssmith

What do you think of the cottage homes? I can see that they have 2 car garages and no kissing lanai's. Do you like them? Does someone live in one? Do you like it? What do you like about it? Are your neighbors friendly?

We have a Tuckett Inn...and love it!

The #1 selling point was that the lanai is right off the kitchen (no spilling coffee on my way through the carpeted rooms The kitchen is HUGE with lots of cupboards and counter space. The lanai faces the neighbors solid wall, so we have lots of privacy.

The #2 selling point was that the bedrooms and bathrooms are in the back of the house...another privacy plus!

Geeze...can you tell I love my privacy??

Our neighbors are great...the neighborhood is beautiful...I wouldn't want to live anywhere else!

[zcaveman]

The cottages used to be called ranch homes and are one of the biggest sellers because of their afford ability and size. I think the Villages wanted to push the designers so they changed the name to cottages to imply that they were small.

Several of the designer model floor plans are exactly the same as the some of the cottages. Make sure that you look at the cottages before you spend the big bucks.

The only disadvantage to some is that they are all frame construction.

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by zcaveman

The cottages used to be called ranch homes and are one of the biggest sellers because of their afford ability and size. I think the Villages wanted to push the designers so they changed the name to cottages to imply that they were small.

Several of the designer model floor plans are exactly the same as the some of the cottages. Make sure that you look at the cottages before you spend the big bucks.

The only disadvantage to some is that they are all frame construction.

Thanks Z, I was just about to post a question asking what a cottage home is. I apparently have one.

Like it very much.

[villages07]

Z ... they may also have changed the name to "cottage" homes because it sounds more Florida/retirement than "ranch". Perhaps a marketing sales move.

[Hawkwind]

About the same time as the name change some of the features that were included in the ranch were not included in the cottages, garage door opener, ceiling fans, washer and dryer, blinds, and possible a few other things. I believe they may have begun to add some of those items back and of course you can have them added when you build.

Another thing about the cottages is that you are limited to the options that you have in the home. In the designer you have a number of choices in the kitchen while in the cottage you are limited to a few.

One thing I am not sure of is if building a new cottage if you can have the walls and garage kicked out a few feet (lot size permitting).

[Russ_Boston]

Used to ranches but they also added a few new cottage models that have the lanai on the side as mentioned. I know it's a sore subject but I'm sure that they get many questions as to why there are no cheaper models without 'kissing lanais'. For this same reason they are starting to do more and more offset building on interior lots of designer series.

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by Hawkwind

About the same time as the name change some of the features that were included in the ranch were not included in the cottages, garage door opener, ceiling fans, washer and dryer, blinds, and possible a few other things.

Oh. Then maybe I don't have a cottage.

[zcaveman]

Originally Posted by Pturner

Oh. Then maybe I don't have a cottage.

Your home is a ranch built in 2001 or 2002 when ranches were still ranches.

[Pturner]

Yes, it was. Thanks neighbor.

[YodaMom]

Just wondering if anyone has done any improvements on their cottage and if so, what? We like a couple different cottages especially the At Ease. Because the cottages come without a lot of bells and whistles, there are so many things you can do to them to make it "your house".

[ceejay]

Originally Posted by YodaMom

Just wondering if anyone has done any improvements on their cottage and if so, what? .

We expanded our lanai with a birdcage...and now we're thinking about wood floors. The carpet is nice but not very good quality...we've only been here for 6 months and it already is beginning to show some wear.

[YodaMom]

Ceejay,

I'm sorry to hear your carpet has to be replaced already. Although, I think the hardwood is a great idea. It will look so nice. Because the prices are lower on the cottages, this must be one of the areas they cut costs. I hope the construction is the same as the designer homes. Will you have to replace anything else in the near future?

Bet you are loving the birdcage!