Florida houses?

[the kabuki]

I can't imagine why people like basements. Here in atlanta, they're either wet, damp and moldy, or caving in! Next house, a slab!

We looked at houses in Tampa a bit back, Palma Ceia. I nearly had a heart attack when I saw the prices, OMG! Even the porta potties out in the front of the remodels were gold-plated...

Love, love, love our basement. It's finished off -tile, carpet, drywall, ceiling, even a kitchen and full bath. It's used as much as the first floor. There's so much stuff down there, can't imagine where I'd put it if we didn't have a basement.

 

[Sandcass]

I looked up our floor plan here near Chicago. Our smallest bedroom (too small for the kids so we use it as a guest room) is 12x14. The kids' rooms are 15x16, 15x14. The master is 21x17 with 13x13. Would it be unrealistic to hope to match these in the Tampa area?

I'm in the Chicago burbs, my MASTER is smaller than your kids' rooms.
Master = 13 x 15
DD = 12 x 11
DS = 10 x 10

It's a tight squeeze, but we have large living areas so we love our house.

 

[jeancbpugh]

I'm in the Chicago burbs, my MASTER is smaller than your kids' rooms.

Look at it this way, now you can happily move to Florida and think the bedrooms are just right.

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

:

We looked at houses in Tampa a bit back, Palma Ceia. I nearly had a heart attack when I saw the prices, OMG! Even the porta potties out in the front of the remodels were gold-plated...

I can believe that, Palma Ceia is probably the priciest area in town. And it is prone to flooding, what a bonus!

 

[jeancbpugh]

For those who are looking at the Tampa area, this is a website that carries the different communities' news.

http://community.tbo.com/

 

[jeancbpugh]

All 8 houses we saw had white marble window sills. I've not seen that before.

Wonder if it is style or function or both?

 

[ducklite]

All 8 houses we saw had white marble window sills. I've not seen that before.

Wonder if it is style or function or both?

Both--less wood is less chance of termite damage.

We had a choice when we built our house, I chose marble, it's easier to care for.

Anne

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

Both--less wood is less chance of termite damage.

We had a choice when we built our house, I chose marble, it's easier to care for.

Anne

I was just going to say that, the less wood, the less chance of termites! I have marble as well.

 

[jeancbpugh]

I was just going to say that, the less wood, the less chance of termites! I have marble as well.

What other anti-termite measures do you take?

 

[chrissyk]

What other anti-termite measures do you take?

Well, our house is all block, so that's one measure. Many people here have termite contracts (termite bonds?). We haven't gone that route with this house, but we would if we suspected that it was necessary.

It seems like termite bonds are more common in newer construction. Our exterminator says that areas that have been built-out for many years (like ours) have fewer issues because the ecosystem has become more stable.

 

[ducklite]

What other anti-termite measures do you take?

We have tubes in the slab so we can get under the house treated every five years without drilling. We have a termite contract, the guy comes and inspects and renews it every fall.

The exterior is all block, which also helps, although in NJ when we had termites they came up through a slab and inside a brinck wall and at away at the studs and drywall before we ever knew they were there.

Anne

 

[jeancbpugh]

Everyone has been very helpful. I appreciate all the input!!

 

[jeancbpugh]

We have tubes in the slab so we can get under the house treated every five years without drilling. We have a termite contract, the guy comes and inspects and renews it every fall.

Did you have the tubes put in when they poured the slab for this purpose? Or were they drilled after?

 

[alikat99]

We had the termite tubes put into our slab about a year after we moved in. We have an addition on the house that was done in regular wood, not concrete block and we ended up getting termites. We fixed all the damage and then got a termite contract. They came in and drilled all the holes and come back every year to inspect. Then, every 5 years they retreat the house.

 

[Disneyrsh]

We had the termite tubes put into our slab about a year after we moved in. We have an addition on the house that was done in regular wood, not concrete block and we ended up getting termites. We fixed all the damage and then got a termite contract. They came in and drilled all the holes and come back every year to inspect. Then, every 5 years they retreat the house.

In the south, there are two kinds of houses; those that have had termites, and those that will

 

[ducklite]

Did you have the tubes put in when they poured the slab for this purpose? Or were they drilled after?

They were installed before the slab was poured. We also have the "Tubes In the Wall" system which has worked very well. The best part is I don't have to be home for the bug guy to come do his thing.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

In the south, there are two kinds of houses; those that have had termites, and those that will

This is not true at all. With proper preventive maintenance you can remain termite free forever. But if you do'nt take the proper precautions, you are right, you WILL get termites.

We had them in our NJ home, and have decided to not wait five years to treat under the slab, rather we are going to a four year schedule. I'd rather spend the $$ for one extra treatment every twenty years than risk the damage that termites can do.

Anne

 

[kjustice]

Don't forget about out east! I live in the Fish Hawk area (south of Brandon) and have 1.5 acres in a gated community. We are about 35 minutes from the airport and (gasp) 60 minutes from the main gate of Disney.

We have a large pool but some neighborhoods (called developments here) have community pools.

In Fish Hawk Ranch, they have an aquatic center which rivals deluxe resort pools complete with water slide and dancing fountains.

www.fishhawkranch.com
www.fishhawktrails.com

 

[the kabuki]

Thank you so much to everyone for all the info! DH & I have talked about moving for the past few years, this is the first time we're really considering it seriously. This is all coming in very handy!

 

[the kabuki]

What do you think of the following areas: Brandon, Valrico, Westley Chapel, or New Richey? Specifically for family friendly year round types of neighborhoods?

Seems like in the Brandon area your money goes a bit farther than Land o Lakes?