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.
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.
