People who own a second home on the beach will tell you that there is only one smart way to own an ocean front vacation home: DON'T. Times have changed.
Everyone seems to be tightening their collective belts. We are finally talking about the things that are critical yet were ignored as long as events would allow. It seems that choices are limited now - we are stuck with the economy, the
Posted by: Chester in Untagged on
Jan 23, 2009
The Bahamas. The name evokes images of exotic, endless summers and colorful fish swimming through crystal clear water, sandy beach cabanas with friendly locals serving rum drinks. The reality has always failed to match the image, or perhaps the image is just out of focus and excludes the sand fleas, power outages, water shortages, twenty dollar rum drinks, etc., etc. - but this past weekend we
Posted by: Chester in Untagged on
Nov 17, 2008
A recent article in the local paper read, "Investors put money into homes rather than stocks", recycling the old adage that owning real estate is the only way not to go wrong - emphasis on the word ‘real'. When so many people have lost large percentages of their paper wealth in the recent stock market declines, the benefits of a tangible asset versus a stock portfolio snapshot is brought
Posted by: Chester in Untagged on
Aug 29, 2008
8/31/08
The house is furnished and has a great feel. The theater room came out impressively (we added a Blu-ray disc player, 7.1 surround sound with B&K amp). The only construction related item remaining is the cooktop - which came in Natural Gas instead of Propane as ordered - and Dacor does not have a conversion kit - and is out of stock. We expect the new unit to arrive next Monday and it
Posted by: Chester in Untagged on
Jul 27, 2008
I finally have the approval to build the decks in the new set-back - the variance drama is done! The crew began the piers on Friday (approval was Thursday night). Material will arrive today for framing.
The lighting control is being installed now - two engineers are here from Ft. Lauderdale programming the system. Power is on and we have air conditioning! Most of the lighting fixtures have been
Posted by: Chester in Untagged on
Jul 11, 2008
The elevator has been delayed - for no apparent reason. The painters are complete with all the basic painting and are down to the shelving and paneling I added. Appliances are installed, as are the glass hand rail panels - both inside and out.
I am getting complaints about the HVAC units on the roof - the Fripp Island ARB enforcer came down to express her concern. I have not yet built the
Posted by: Chester in Untagged on
Jun 28, 2008
Floor finishing is done! The painters are doing punchwork now. Plumbers have begun set-out, and the water is on.
The appliances and light fixtures are all on site, ready for installation. Finish carpenters have returned and are completing all the final trim items - door locks, shoe molding, bunk room shelving, theater room shelving, some poplar ship-lap wall paneling I decided to add in the
Posted by: Chester in Untagged on
Jun 15, 2008
The floor finishers are back as of Thursday. They will be finishing floors all week, which removes any and all other interior personnel from the job.
Interior painting is complete other than touch-up and special items, like the bunk beds and ship lap paneling. The bunks are in but the shelving in the bunk room is not - it will have to wait until the floors are done.
The counter tops went in last
Posted by: Chester in Untagged on
May 27, 2008
The inevitable delays have crept in. The rain came and some of it came in. I had two of my best men out to install locks and adjust the doors – the source of the leaks. Because of the water on the floors, the finisher wanted to give it a few days to get back to a good moisture level. He went on to another job. He and his entire crew got exposed to TB (no kidding) and have been in
Posted by: Chester in Untagged on
May 09, 2008
The kitchen cabinetry has been set. The counter tops and bar top fabricator is scheduled to arrive on Monday to make templates. The tops will be a new product called Vetrostone. The mason who invented the process is the best marble fabricator in this area. He uses local oyster and whelk shells in epoxy slurry to create a terrazzo-like surface that is beautiful and unique (take a look):