Now Booking for 2011; No Increase in Peak Rates

The 2011 calendar is now available at our Village Realty Site and the rates for summer peak weeks will remain unchanged from 2010 (and 2009!). We did make a few small adjustments to our early and late weeks, increasing the rates by $50. We also adjusted the week before Labor Day to be more representative of other 5BR homes in the Currituck Club. We still think this week is one of the best values throughout the OBX.

As mentioned in our earlier post, Sound Racer will be available from May through September 2011. We've shortened the season slightly to allow us more time to prepare for the new season. We have some upgrades and new features planned and we will post them here when they are complete. (And, the Pine Island Beach Club membership will continue in 2011.)

Thanks to all of our guests in 2010. We are especially pleased to see that several repeat guests have already reserved for 2011. During the years that we were renters on the OBX, we would search for a special house that we could return to year after year; a house that would feel like home when we were at the beach. Our hope in designing Sound Racer was that we could create the same type of "destination home" for other families, and repeat guests are a sign we are on the right track.

As always, we are very interested in your comments and suggestions. Please email us or post a comment here.

More Details on the Pine Island Beach Club

Pine Island Beach Club

In August, we spent a week at the OBX and stayed in Sound Racer. This was the first time that we were able to use the facilities at the Pine Island Beach Club, an ammenity that is available to all guests beginning in July 2010. When we were first presented with the opportunity to add membership as an ammenity for our guests, we said "yes" based on the description of the club, but we had never visited. Now that we've spent some time there, as long time beach goers we're ready to report: We were pretty impressed.

We've posted some pictures on our Flickr site. Here are a few of the features and benefits we enjoyed at the Pine Island Beach Club (PIBC):

1. Plentiful parking. The lot is north of the Hampton Inn and is accessed through the same drive. Veer left for the PIBC lot, which was never full on the days we visited.

2. Quiet beach. Once you enter the PIBC, you can choose to hang out at the pool or head directly to the beach. The beach here, at the south end of the Pine Island homes, is very quiet. You will need to bring your own beach gear, but there is a snack bar and bathrooms at the PIBC.

3. A great pool. The PIBC pool has 26-yard lanes for swimming laps, as well as shallow areas for just hanging out. There is also a kids pool, and plenty of seating on the deck.

4. Other amenities. Also available are ping pong, pool, bathrooms and a snack bar. Staff and lifeguards are on duty, and activities are planned throughout the summer.

All guests will receive Pine Island "credentials" in their Village Realty check-in packets. Enjoy!

Sound Racer: 2011 Availability

Thanks to all of our guests who made 2010 a "sell out summer" at Sound Racer. We've already received some expressions of interest regarding 2011 (thank you!) and so we're posting an update on our plans for 2011.

In 2011, we plan to make Sound Racer available beginning Sunday May 1. The last rental week will begin on Sunday September 28th (concluding October 2). We realize that Village Realty has posted a "default" calendar on our main site that indicates additional weeks will be available. This is standard operating procedure for Village Realty -- actual rental availability is posted towards the end of the summer after owners return their contracts. By posting the actual dates now, we want to provide our potential guests with as much information as possible.

Just Added for 2010: Membership in the Pine Island Beach Club

We are very pleased to add a new amenity to Sound Racer for 2010: membership privileges to the Pine Island Beach Club. We were told this was a first-come first-served opportunity offered to a limited number of Currituck Club homeowners, and after reviewing the descriptive material and talking with Village Realty and the Pine Island management we thought it would be a great addition.

The Beach Club is located just north of the Hampton Inn along Route 12. See aerial map below; the Club parking lot is to the north, the Pine Island Diner lot is to the south. The Club offers access to the relatively uncrowded Pine Island beaches, and a lot more. The facility includes:

• Oceanfront pool
• Children’s pool
• Supervised children’s activities
• Picnic tables and umbrellas
• Direct access to private beach
• Large dune deck
• Free parking
• Bike rack
• Showers and restroom facilities

We thought this would add an excellent option for enjoying the beach. While the Currituck Club trolley is very convenient -- it picks up right in front of Sound Racer -- and we enjoy the Currituck Club's beach access area, the Pine Island facility offers a large pool as well as convenient parking. As a family, we know that there are times when having a car nearby is very helpful -- whether for supplies or a quick run to Harris Teeter. Having a pool nearby adds options for family members who want a break from the salt water. The Pine Island Diner is next door, and there are restrooms at the Club.

Credentials for the Club will be included in each guest's check-in packet beginning June 13. We're excited to try out the Pine Island Club when we next visit the beach. If you get a chance and would like to share your experiences, please comment on this post.




View Larger Map

Some New Features for 2010

We've added some enhancements for the 2010 rental season. Some of these are based on guest feedback -- we're always interested in ideas and suggestions!

1. In the Kitchen, we've added the an electric griddle, crockpot, casserole dishes and pyrex, various utensils. We also upgraded the coffee makers.

2. We've added another dual Adirondack chair. There are now two on the top level deck (as pictured) and one next to the pool.

3. We've also added a pair of Adirondack chairs and table to the mid-level deck. This will be another great place to enjoy the sunset.
 

Sound Racer: The Credits

During Sound Racer's design and construction, we had the opportunity to work with a number of vendors that we heartily endorse for anyone considering building or upgrading your Outer Banks property. Below, a few words about each.

Like many purchasers, our first step was a visit to a model home -- in this case the models in the Currituck Club. There, we met Ed Godley who provided our introduction to real estate ownership in the Outer Banks. Ed was a font of information and helped us understand options related to building, owning and renting. With a good knowledge of the Currituck Club, Ed showed us various lots and assisted us in the purchase of Lot 312.

Ed introduced us to our builder, Renaissance Construction. Owned and operated by Steve and Debbie Daniels, Renaissance has built several homes in the Currituck Club. One of these homes (The Master's Touch) was our favorite rental. The attention to detail and quality in this home left us predisposed towards Renassiance, and our first meeting with Steve sealed the deal.

The process with Renaissance began with a meeting with their designer, Paul Gilbertson. Paul asked us to start with a "wish list" of features based on our previous experience at the OBX. The list included basics like number of bedrooms, type of floor plan and general amenities. But Paul encouraged to go further and think about smaller spaces (nooks), window design, exterior features, etc. All of this was enhanced by Paul's experience with other homes, which included the opportunity for us to look at drawings and floor plans from previous projects. Paul's first set of rough plans was very much on the mark. We made a few changes , and we were set to go to pricing.

As would be expected, the pricing process involved lots of back and forth on materials, specifications and design. One of the benefits of working with Renaissance is their Design Center, located in Manteo. Working with Laura Wolke of the Renaissance staff, we were able to choose finishes, fixtures and other items (even hose bibs!) in one day.  Steve, Paul and Linda were very helpful in discussing the cost / benefit of various options.

With pricing set and a contract signed, we secured financing and construction began. Prior to construction, Renaissance completed a very detailed site survey which allowed us to position the house so as to maximize the number of live oaks and other trees we could "save". Construction was well documented on the Renaissance website; we could check in from afar and see the progress on our home.

Once the basic design of the house was complete, it was time to work on the details including furnishings and electronics. We worked with Brian Sherlock of Ambrose Furniture in Coinjock (right on Route 158) for interior furnishings and design. With constant admonitions to "Remember this is a Beach House!", Brian was a great resource for everthing from furniture to accent pieces to colors. Ambrose offers large, well-stocked showrooms and lots of experience with beach homes. They also offer complete decor and accessory packages that get the home "move-in" ready, with everything from pictures on the walls to silverware in the drawers. We planned for a "one-day" delievery and setup and everything was ready and delivered by a friendly staff. And -- the best part -- this part of the process was surprisingly economical.

For electronics, we chose to work with the pros at Custom Audio. As an "A/V guy", I was tempted to do some of the work myself. I'm sure glad that I fought that urge and went with Custom. In a word, the Custom Audio team are pros. They know what works best in beach houses, including special features like outdoor and remote speakers; iPod docks, special mounts and surge protectors. They coordinate with the builder to make sure that pre-wiring is done at the appropriate time. They know how to configure the systems for renters' ease of use, including laminated instructions. We found the cost reasonable, and the service exceptional.

Other recommended vendors who worked with us on Sound Racer:

• Game Room: Mark Lupean of East Coast Games. Mark has a lot of experience with rental homes and guided us towards a setup that would be attractive to renters and easy to maintain.

• Grills, outdoor furniture, and great advice: Kellog Supply Company in Duck. Kellog is truly a local hardware store with excellent knowledge and helpful staff. We have returned to Kellog many times for items large and small. Joe Gaca and Pat Scarlett have been very helpful with advice. The furniture on the screened porch is from Kellog.

• Cabinetry: We can't say enough good about the quality and service we received from Cliff Granitski of Island Woodcrafts. We were introduced to Cliff through Renaissance and he is responsible for the cabinetry throughout the house, including the often-complimented kitchen. Like all cabinets, ours occasionally needed adjustment and Cliff made sure we were satisfied customers.

• Rental Management: As described elsewhere in this blog, we chose Village Realty based on our prior experience as renters. We have to say, as owners Village Realty exceeded our expectations. As we were beginning the construction process, Village prepared an estimate of rental income (which turned out to be slightly conservative). They helped us create our marketing presence on their site and ours. And all along they way they offered helpful advice and answer our "new owner" questions.

Other vendors that deserve a "shout out" include Coastal Gas, Oceanside Pool and Spa, and Aqua Turf Landscaping.
 
Without minimizing the amount of time and effort that goes in to building a new home, we can honestly say that in the end our experience was truly enjoyable. And the credit goes to the firms and people listed above.