FRONT PORCH

In our first post we met the Lynch family. Jim and Penny were looking for a one-story Ft. Myers home to make it easier for Penny to get around following her knee replacement and also to get her the gourmet kitchen of her dreams.

We left off just as they were ready to start touring communities and settle on a specific floor plan to build.

A Community for Everyone

The Lynches previously lived in an amenity-rich, gated community, but decided that on their next home, they’d rather save on fees and find a neighborhood that was beautiful but didn’t include facilities they didn’t need.

After all, they’re beach people at heart, and would rather spend leisure time with their granddaughter Ruby playing in the sand rather than lounging by the pool.

They also preferred surroundings that felt intimate and private but without a masonry wall bordering the community.

Jackpot: Cypress Walk

The Lynches fell in love right away with Cypress Walk. It offered the perfect combination of a semi-private neighborhood while still feeling open and not closed off from the rest of town.

The home site sizes were big enough to feel like you really had your own space. This was great because Jim really likes his privacy.

In fact, the Lynches got lucky as the biggest home site in the development was still available!

They were so excited they came back the next day to sign a contract. Less than a dozen sites were left and they didn’t want to miss out.

Jim also mentioned the no-pressure sales approach as a big factor in helping them feel comfortable with moving so quickly on the deal.

“Krista was our sales associate from start to finish and she was spot on the whole time. There was no difficulty. There were no challenges. She wanted to know what was the best fit for us and that’s how it worked.”

On Choosing a Floor Plan

Penny noted that one of her favorite things about shopping for a new home with Neal is how the gorgeous model homes help to visualize the possibilities of each plan.

“Boy, you walk into that house and it’s just perfect. And the open concept leisure room is ideal for my family,” she says.

The Lynches get a lot of out-of-town visitors so there were a few factors that played strongly into deciding on a floor plan:

• Ideally, they wanted a cozy spot to socialize right off the foyer so that guests could come in, sit down and relax right away. Two separate lounge areas also mean Penny can watch her favorite cop shows while Jim’s football games are on!
• A guest suite with a private bath located away from the owner’s retreat. This ensures guests as well as Jim & Penny can enjoy privacy while sharing the home.
• An airy and spacious gourmet kitchen with dining space.
• A Colonial style exterior that looked more like a New England style home.

They liked the Triumph plan a lot, but in the end, the Applause floor plan knocked it out of the park and that’s what they went with.

Visiting the Design Center

Both Jim and Penny noted their experience with Donna at the Design Center was second to none. “She made it so easy,” they shared.

Simple pointers, like first matching your cabinets to the flooring helped the Lynches piece together the home of their dreams. They loved that there was no pressure to spend more on options and upgrades.

“We’re not cookie cutter people. We took some of the upgrades and some of them we passed on.”

We asked Penny if her new kitchen is everything she imagined it would be? Her answer: “Oh my God. My kitchen is my dream kitchen. It really is!”

So, what’s next on the Lynch’s Ft. Myers home building journey? Stay tuned to find out.

See previous Lynch Post

See how the home building process went!