What actually happens between your first model visit and the day you get the keys — including the part most buyers underestimate: choosing your options at the Taylor Morrison Design Center.
Buying new construction at Esplanade by the Islands isn't one decision — it's a chain of them, each with a deadline and a price tag: which lot, which model, which structural options, which finishes, what to do through the builder, and what to save for after closing.
This page walks the whole sequence in order, with real photos from the Design Center so you can see the kinds of selections you'll be making. Timelines below are approximate — they shift with the phase of the community, permitting, and the builder's schedule. Call me for what current buyers are actually experiencing: (239) 877-4646.
Every buyer's path looks roughly like this. The shopping phase moves as fast as you want; construction moves at the pace of permits, trades, and inspections.
We tour the community together and register you with the builder as my buyer on day one. From that point on you have an independent agent in every conversation, working as a transaction broker — typically at no cost to you, because Taylor Morrison pays the cooperating broker fee (builder policy as of 2026). Compensation is negotiable and not set by law.
Walk the furnished models — but read them carefully. Models are dressed with upgraded options, so part of my job is telling you what's standard, what's an upgrade, and roughly what the home you're standing in would actually cost to replicate.
Lot premiums at Esplanade vary with water and preserve views, exposure (southern rear exposure carries a premium for pool sun), lot width, and proximity to the amenity campus. The right question isn't "is the premium worth it to me" — it's "will the premium hold its value at resale." I'll show you what comparable premium lots have resold for.
Before you sign anything, we check the resale market inside the gates. Sometimes a lightly-lived-in resale with the pool, screens, and window treatments already done beats a base-price new build plus a year of waiting and aftermarket projects. Sometimes new wins clearly. We run both numbers.
At the Taylor Morrison Design Center you select cabinetry, countertops, flooring, tile, plumbing and lighting fixtures, door hardware, and dozens of other options — the photos below show the actual displays. Two rules of thumb: structural and behind-the-wall options are now-or-never, and not every upgrade returns its cost at resale. I'll flag which is which.
Base price + lot premium + structural options + design selections = your real number. We review the purchase agreement, deposit schedule, and any current builder incentives (rate buydowns, closing-cost credits, design-option credits) before you sign. Want to see what that really adds up to? Two real 2026 Esplanade purchases, broken down →
Collier County permitting, lot clearing, fill, and compaction. Mostly invisible to you, but it's the phase where start dates move — which is why I give you milestone updates instead of promises.
Slab pour, concrete block walls, roof trusses, and dry-in. The home goes from dirt to recognizable shape fastest in this stretch.
Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC rough-in — then the single most important inspection of the build: the pre-drywall walkthrough, the last time anyone can see inside the walls. I attend it with you (or for you, if you're out of state) and we photograph everything.
Drywall, paint, cabinets, countertops, tile, flooring, fixtures, appliances — your Design Center selections become a house. Punch-list items get tagged in the weeks before completion.
The county issues the CO; we do the final orientation walkthrough with the builder, document every open item, and confirm the warranty process before closing — not after.
Funding, recording, keys. Then the part nobody warns you about: the after-closing project list. Which brings us to…
Some of the biggest-ticket items can be done by the builder or by outside contractors after closing — each route with real trade-offs in cost, time, financing, and warranty. The full comparison is below. One constant: exterior additions after closing need Association design-review approval first (see Rules & Standards).
These are real photos from the Taylor Morrison Design Center — the displays buyers walk through when they turn a base floor plan into their home. Click any photo to enlarge.
The rule of thumb that answers 80% of upgrade questions: if it's structural, behind drywall, or part of the building envelope — do it with the builder. If it's decorative, freestanding, or installable later — get aftermarket quotes first.
| Consideration | Through the builder | Aftermarket (after closing) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Often carries a builder markup; pricing is take-it-or-leave-it | Competitive bids from multiple contractors; often meaningfully cheaper |
| Timing | Done at move-in — zero disruption | You live through the project; SWFL contractor and permit lead times can run months |
| Financing | Rolled into the mortgage at your home-loan rate | Cash or separate (often costlier) financing |
| Permits & approvals | Builder handles permitting; no HOA approval needed during the build | You (or your contractor) pull permits; exterior work needs Association design-review approval first |
| Selection | Limited to the builder's option catalog | Anything the market offers — fully custom |
| Warranty | Covered under the builder's new-home warranty | Separate contractor warranties, varying quality |
| Appraisal & resale | Cost is in the purchase price and appraisal | May add value not fully captured if you resell soon after |
The classic both-ways decision. Builder pool: financed in the mortgage, finished at move-in, one warranty. Aftermarket pool: usually more custom and often more competitive on price — but expect a long permit-to-plaster timeline in Collier County, HOA design review, and construction equipment in your yard after you've moved in.
Either way, decide at contract: pool-bath plumbing, gas stubs, electrical runs, and lanai structural options are build-time decisions even if the pool itself comes later.
Impact glass is effectively a build-time-only decision — retrofitting whole-house impact windows later costs far more. Roll-down screens and motorized lanai shutters, by contrast, are a healthy aftermarket category with strong local competition.
Insurance note: documented opening protection affects windstorm premiums — worth pricing both routes before the design appointment.
Frequently done aftermarket — but the enabling infrastructure is much cheaper during construction. A gas line stub, transfer-switch prep, and panel capacity cost little at build time and save real money later. Full installs need county permits and HOA approval either way.
Kitchen and bath cabinetry: builder — it's behind the appraisal and integrated with plumbing and counters. Custom closet systems, garage cabinetry and epoxy floors, and entertainment built-ins: almost always better aftermarket — more custom, frequently cheaper, and installable in a day or two without permits.
Costs, policies, option availability, and timelines vary by release and change without notice — verify current details with the builder. This page describes the typical process, not a guarantee of any schedule or outcome.
Phone or text: (239) 877-4646. Registration takes two minutes and costs you nothing — the builder pays my commission.
Planning a design appointment? Send a message and I'll help you build your upgrade shortlist before you're on the clock.
Brokerage. Nicholas Nolan (Florida Real Estate License SL3504588) is a licensed real estate sales associate of Realty ONE Group MVP, 1495 Pine Ridge Rd, Naples, FL 34109. The Nicholas Nolan Team is a team operating under the supervision of Realty ONE Group MVP. All real estate services are performed by Realty ONE Group MVP.
Equal Housing Opportunity. We do business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law and equal opportunity housing standards.
Photography. Photos © Nicholas Nolan LLC unless credited otherwise; some images may be digitally enhanced. Unauthorized use prohibited — see Terms.
Independent resource. This site is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by Esplanade by the Islands Community Association, Inc., or Taylor Morrison. “Esplanade” and “Esplanade by the Islands” are trademarks of Taylor Morrison; all third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Pricing & floor plans. Subject to change without notice. Verify all current pricing, availability, and specifications with the builder before making purchase decisions.
