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        <title>Resort Realty Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>http://www.resortouterbanks.com/blog/</link>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.resortouterbanks.com/blog/obhba-announces-2012-board-of-directors.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.resortouterbanks.com/blog/obhba-announces-2012-board-of-directors.html</link>
            <author>lori.brooks@resortrealty.com (Resort  Realty )</author>
            <title>OBHBA Announces 2012 Board of Directors</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
&#65279;&#65279;Outer Banks Home Builders Association (OBHBA) recently announced their 2012 Board of Directors at the January general membership meeting. Chris Toolan of Resort Realty was among those named to serve the Association and the Outer Banks community this year.&nbsp;


&#65279;


The mission of OBHBA is: "to serve, promote, educate and advocate for members of the local building industry while supporting each other and the local community. With the provision of goods, services and monetary resources, OBHBA members continue to support local food pantries, college scholarships, urgent repair needs of individuals within the community and organized efforts for recovery and relief in the areas hardest hit by last years hurricane."


Resort Realty is proud to support the OBHBA and congratulates Chris Toolan on his contributions.&nbsp;


Pictured (photo&nbsp;courtesy&nbsp;of OBHBA):&nbsp;


2012 OBHBA Board of Directors: From left, Tom Haddon, Haddon Homes; Mike Wiegand, First Bank;Secretary Chuck Hymes, Home Solutions; Associate VP Kaye Brown Jones, OBX Bank/Mortgage;Sam Hagedon, Hatteras Island Construction; President John DeBoy, DeBoy Construction &amp; Remodeling;Treasurer Brian McDonald, Outer Banks Heating and Cooling; Vice President Sam Barker, Seaside Builders;Chris Toolan, Resort Realty; Past President Forrest Seal, Forrest Seal, LLC; Anthony Collie, Mill-End Carpet;and Jay Overton, Albemarle &amp; Associates. Not pictured Director Kenny Pekrun, Atlantic Elevators.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:05:30 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.resortouterbanks.com/blog/outer-banks-event-homes.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.resortouterbanks.com/blog/outer-banks-event-homes.html</link>
            <author>lori.brooks@resortrealty.com (Resort  Realty )</author>
            <title>Outer Banks Event Homes</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
The
Outer Banks Wedding Expo was this past weekend, so this is probably a good time
to talk about the business side of getting married on the Outer Banks. There
is, of course, romance and love (hopefully) involved in getting married, but
there is certainly money to be made as well.


Although
specific numbers are hard to come by, a conservative estimate puts the number
of weddings on the Outer Banks (Carova to Ocracoke) at a little over 3000. The
amount of money the industry produces is huge. The average wedding costs
somewhere around $29,000-30,000, and that figure does not include lodging.


It is in
lodging that the greatest opportunity for homeowners lies.


Because the
majority of Outer Banks weddings occur in the shoulder seasons (September/October
and April/May are the most popular times), being a part of the local wedding
scene offers homeowners tremendous opportunity for increased revenue outside of
the summer season.


Unlike a
wedding in a hometown, everyone who is coming to an Outer Banks wedding is
coming from somewhere else, and they need some a to stay. At its simplest
level, a homeowner may wish to make sure their home is available when a wedding
party comes to town. George Bell, event coordinator for Resort Realty, notes
that wedding parties like to be in close proximity to one another and knowing
housing is available makes that job easier. &ldquo;At Resort Realty, weve done a
really good job of keeping everyone together when additional lodging is
needed,&rdquo; he says.


Homeowners
may also wish to include their property in the Resort Realty event home
listings. Although there are additional opportunities for income when a home is
listed as an event home, there are expenses involved as well.


&ldquo;When someone
says they want to be an event home, I walk through the house,&rdquo; George says. &ldquo;I
want to make sure the house can handle 50 or 60 people. We want to look at the
septic system and make sure its adequate. At the very least, the home must be
well maintained. The lawn neat, the walls painted. If we take a picture, it has
to look its best.&rdquo;


&ldquo;It is
important that the homeowners educate themselves,&rdquo; George goes on to say. &ldquo;It
(an event home) comes with additional wear and tear. You might as well not even
stock your house with wine glasses. Theyll either get broken or leave with the
guests.&rdquo;


There is an
event fee that is charged--typically $1500-2500--but much of that fee may be
consumed by maintenance costs, breakage and commissions. Nonetheless,
homeowners generally realize some additional revenue from the event fees,
according to George.


It should
also be stressed that event homes are not solely for weddings. &ldquo;Family reunions
can be just as big. Sometimes bigger,&rdquo; George points out.


There are two
wedding organizations on the Outer Banks. The Outer Banks Wedding Association&nbsp;is by far the largest and has been around for some time. OBXbrides is a newer, much smaller organization. OBXbrides will hold a
wedding show on March 24 at the Sanderling Inn and Resort in Duck.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:12:40 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.resortouterbanks.com/blog/2012-real-estate-outlook.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.resortouterbanks.com/blog/2012-real-estate-outlook.html</link>
            <author>lori.brooks@resortrealty.com (Resort  Realty )</author>
            <title>2012 Real Estate Outlook</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Its
hard not to be optimistic at the beginning of a new year, although with real
estate its a little more difficult than feeling good about your favorite
sports team, as an example. The analogy with sports teams seems reasonable though. Their success tends to be somewhat cyclical--some more cyclical than
others--a reasonable guess can be made about their chances for success (or
failure) based on observable facts, but ultimately it is the game itself that
decides how well a team does.


That
comparison, however, doesnt really hold up all that well. No matter how much
we care about our favorite teams, no matter if they win or lose, in the big
scheme of things, it doesnt really matter.&nbsp;The value of
our property, though, the largest investment many American have, that does
matter.


In the glass
half empty, glass half full view of things, the Outer Banks real estate market
has held its own over the past few years and does not seem to have gone through
as much of the radical contraction seen in many markets. Thats the half-full
scenario.&nbsp;The
half-empty pessimist would point out that property values are stagnate, real
estate sales for the Outer Banks are virtually unchanged from 2010 to 2011.
(1.3% more transactions for 1.4% less value through November), and there is
still a backlog of distressed properties.


It is the
distressed properties that may be the biggest hurdle to overcome, according to
Roy Singletary, Resort Realty sales manager. &ldquo;Theres a lot of distressed
properties that may be coming into the market in 2012,&rdquo; Roy notes. &ldquo;These are
properties that were foreclosed improperly. The banks are holding off on them
waiting for a ruling from the court.&rdquo;


Those
distressed properties are at the heart of why sales and property values are not
going up. That backlog has created a buyers market and Roy points out that
property owners who put an appropriate price out there are getting results.
&ldquo;There are buyers out there and&nbsp; . . . they are looking for good deals.
Sellers who are willing to look at our local market and recognize that it is
not the 2004 market will sell their property.&rdquo;


There is
movement in the market. . . and surprising strength. Over half of the real
estate transactions in the Outer Banks market were for three to four bedroom
single family homes. Priced under $400,000 (the average 2011 price is just
above $301,000 so substantially below $400,000.), these are homes that are
being purchased as primary residences or family vacation homes.


Builders have
certainly noticed the trend and there is a bit of a resurgence in new home
construction locally to answer the demand. Although the initial price of a new
home may appear to be significantly more than a distressed property, many of
the foreclosed homes need a lot of work to bring them to habitable standards.
&ldquo;If someone has to invest $40,000 or $50,000 to make a house livable, its
about the same price as a new home and theyll (buyers) go for the new home
with all the guarantees that come with it,&rdquo; Roy says.


So, not much
of a New Years prediction for the Outer Banks real estate market. Or take your
pick: glass half full, glass half empty. Its a good market either way, but you
will need to pick a good team.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2012 08:33:22 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.resortouterbanks.com/blog/holidays-on-the-outer-banks.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.resortouterbanks.com/blog/holidays-on-the-outer-banks.html</link>
            <author>lori.brooks@resortrealty.com (Resort  Realty )</author>
            <title>Holidays on the Outer Banks</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Set against the ever-changing sea
and the inevitable march to the heart of winter, holidays on the Outer Banks
become a gift to be cherished. To be here during the holiday season
takes a certain acceptance that nature will have its way but the shelter
against any storm is ultimately the family and traditions that are so much a
part of life on the edge of a continent.


Some of those traditions are a little bit quirky, and
certainly unique. Old Christmas, celebrated on January 5 in Rodanthe, is
probably one of the few places left that mark the day. Dating from the mid 18th century
when 11 days were dropped from the calendar to create the modern Gregorian
calendar, the day is welcomed with a stuffed bull (an English tradition) and a
lot of cheer.


There are other traditions as well, many of those remarkably
similar to the traditions in almost any small town--for make no mistake, in the
winter, the Outer Banks becomes a place of small town custom and village life.


Santa seems to be everywhere. Theres breakfast with Santa,
and he eats so many of them, its no wonder hes a &ldquo;fat jolly old elf.&rdquo; And
that doesnt include all the other ways he shows up.&nbsp;It is more than Santa, though. Every year the Elizabethan
Gardens Grand Illumination creates artistry against the dark of night.&nbsp;


Speaking of lighting the night sky--the Poulos house, on the
road to Nags Head Woods, is a holiday creation that has to be seen to be
believed. Passing under a lighted arch in the road, suddenly there appears
dozens of individual holiday scenes (holiday being used advisedly--theres a
Menorah and dreidel scene included), tens of thousands if not hundreds of
thousands of lights, and just an extraordinary feeling of the joy of the
season.&nbsp;It is the gift of one family to the Outer Banks.


It may be that is what creates such a wonderful feeling of
being home for the holidays on the Outer Banks; the sense of generosity, family
and giving can and do transcend any one place, yet they define the meaning home
and holiday.&nbsp;Certainly, it is a gift to have those things on the Outer
Banks as it is a gift to have those things in all of our lives.


Perhaps, then, that is the gift of the season, the sense of
home and holiday that comes with the traditions surrounding us.


From all of us at Resort Realty, we wish you the
very best this holiday season and a wonderful new
year.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:44:50 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.resortouterbanks.com/blog/when-is-the-right-time-to-buy.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.resortouterbanks.com/blog/when-is-the-right-time-to-buy.html</link>
            <author>lori.brooks@resortrealty.com (Resort  Realty )</author>
            <title>When is the Right Time to Buy?</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Buying
a house is a lot like having kids--there probably isnt a ideal time for
either, which roughly translates to, &ldquo;Dont wait for the perfect moment,
because it will never happen.&rdquo;


That being
said, if there is such a thing as an ideal time to invest in Outer Banks property,
this is it. Prices in the area seem to have fallen about as far as theyre
going to fall, interest rates are at historic lows and banks are starting to
write loans again--although they are being very cautious. &ldquo;The time to buy is
now,&rdquo; Roy Singletary, sales manager for Resort Realty, says.


Like any
market, there are unique characteristics to the Outer Banks that both buyers
and sellers need to know. The vast majority of homes bought and sold are for
investment and second homes, and because of that there are patterns to when
people are looking at houses and when owners are showing them.


The summer is
a great time to visit the Outer Banks, but it is not be the best time to shop
for property. From June through August, occupancy exceeds 90% and in some weeks
will be as high as 98-99%. &ldquo;Theres a window between twelve and four on
Saturday and Sunday (when the homes are being cleaned) when you can get in
there,&rdquo; Roy says. &ldquo;But during the week, you cant get in the houses.&rdquo;


When things
slow down, though, the buying season begins. &ldquo;It starts about September and
runs through March,&rdquo; Roy explains. &ldquo;Typically most properties are investment or
second homes. For the most part, the income on the homes limited to 20 weeks
per year. Theres some income in May and September, but it drops off after
September.&rdquo;


Efforts to
extend the seasons on the Outer Banks have been showing results, and September
and May have become important months. Nonetheless, the peak months of June,
July and August are when the majority of income is earned and homeowners,
understandably, want to earn as much income as they can before selling their
property.


Because of
that, the off season is when most properties are sold. Although both buyers and
sellers are operating within the same time frame, there are differences in what
the two groups hope to do.&nbsp;


Sellers would
just as soon avoid the three or four months of limited income late fall and
winter represents; buyers, reasonably, wish to have revenue as soon as possible
after making their purchase. &ldquo;They dont want to carry it without too much
income,&rdquo; Resort Realty Broker, Walter Stiff, says.&nbsp;


&ldquo;Early
spring, March and April, a lot of people are looking to buy,&rdquo; he goes on to
say.


That time
frame does come with a caveat, however. Chris Toolan, business director for
Resort Realty, points out that getting a house into a property management
marketing plan does take a time, and if the house needs maintenance or repairs,
those issues will have to be addressed. &ldquo;If the house needs attention from
contractors,&rdquo; he says, &ldquo;They get very busy as the (peak) season gets closer.&rdquo;
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:21:11 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.resortouterbanks.com/blog/obx-thanksgiving-festivities.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.resortouterbanks.com/blog/obx-thanksgiving-festivities.html</link>
            <author>lori.brooks@resortrealty.com (Resort  Realty )</author>
            <title>OBX Thanksgiving Festivities</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 



After
the crowds go home, life on the Outer Banks is pretty much a village atmosphere--maybe
a small town but nothing bigger than that.&nbsp;


Except for
Thanksgiving and Christmas. And Thanksgiving is the big one when, for one
glorious week in late autumn, this place explodes.


If there is
such a thing as a homeowners week, this is it. Thats not to say that other
people do not come down for the week, but homeowners really seem to take
advantage of the extra long weekend, pack up the bags and bring the family plus
cousins, aunts and uncles to the beach for a holiday feast.


It is
remarkable how many people make coming to the Outer Banks during the
Thanksgiving holiday part of a family tradition.


Needless to
say, with everyone coming to visit, there is something to do almost every night
of the week--something to do, of course, beyond family, friends and eating.
Which, lets face it, is why everyone likes Thanksgiving so much--the
requirements are eat a lot and spend time with the people you care about most
in the world.


However, this
being the Outer Banks, there are a lot of things to do over and above the
family things.


For runners
and masochists, there are two Turkey Trots on Thanksgiving morning. One through
the Village of Nags Head and the Duck Advice Turkey Trot that starts at
Scarborough Lane. Both start at 8:00 a.m. If youre looking for a competitive
race, this is probably not the right place to be.


Santa is
everywhere--and Ive never understood how the fat jolly old elf could stay so
hefty and make so many appearances over the holidays. Theres a breakfast with
Santa on Wednesday at the Manteo Rec Center on Wednesday. Hell be at the
Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station down in Rodanthe on Friday and hanging out at
Kitty Hawk Kites in Nags Head on both Friday and Saturday.


Speaking of
Kitty Hawk Kites, they do a &ldquo;Kites with Lights&rdquo; every year at Jockeys Ridge
State Park. There is no good way to describe what it looks like to see lights
floating in the sky held aloft by giant kites. It starts about 3:00 in the
afternoon. Dress for the weather--its windy on Jockeys Ridge--which is why
its so good for flying kites.


Of course
night life comes alive as well. Theres live music in more intimate settings
like Aqua Restaurant in Duck or Ocean Boulevard in Kitty Hawk. And larger
venues like the Outer Banks Brewing Station and Port o Call. Kellys Outer
Banks Tavern in Nags Head might be worth a look, with Tim Reynolds and TR3
playing on Saturday night. Reynolds regularly tours and performs with Dave
Matthews Band. A once in a lifetime musician. Expect a fusion combination of
hard rock and jazz.


And then, the
weekend is over, things slow down a bit, and the lucky ones that live here are
reminded of what small town America is really like.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:22:32 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.resortouterbanks.com/blog/outer-banks-fall-fun.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.resortouterbanks.com/blog/outer-banks-fall-fun.html</link>
            <author>lori.brooks@resortrealty.com (Resort  Realty )</author>
            <title>Outer Banks Fall Fun</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Its
been a weekend of fun on the beach--if, that is, you consider running 26 miles
385 yards fun. This has been the Outer Banks Marathon weekend.





Actually its
much more than just a marathon now. Four races--the marathon, a half marathon,
the Outer Banks 8K and Bucanner 5K. And for good measure there is a one mile
fun run on Saturday.


For the
record, Tim Surface from Raleigh was the overall winner with a time of 2:38:40.
The overall womens spot went to Megan Hovis, Charlotte at 2:54:38.





This was the
fifth marathon and it has been growing in popularity and importance ever since
the first one was run in 2007. It is now one of the qualifying races for the
Boston Marathon, and it doesnt hurt, either, that the course is
beautiful.&nbsp;


This was more
than race weekend on the Outer Banks.&nbsp;


Up in
Corolla, Mike Dianna, chef and proprietor or Mike Diannas Grill Room,
sponsored the first annual Mustang Music Fest on Saturday. An all day affair
(noon to midnight), when he said &ldquo;fest&rdquo; he meant it. Eleven bands, two
venues--on the porch of his restaurant at TimBuckII and under the huge tent set
up in his parking lot.&nbsp;





Never ending
music--one band would be playing on the porch, finish and the next would start
playing right away in the tent. Tough call on the best--Mercy Creek was on
fire, Donna the Buffalo (the headliner) has a really unique and interesting
sound complete with concertina and amazing guitar work. Also, Pimps
of Joytime put on an amazing show! Imagine Latin jazz with a driving funky beat with
layer upon layer of texture to the music. Great stuff.


And--this
might be the best part of all of this--its all for charity. Both the Marathon
and the Music Fest. The Outer Banks Marathon has, since its inception, been a
fund raising effort for the Dare Education Foundation and the Mustang Music
Fest donated the proceeds to the Corolla Wild Horse Fund and Food for Thought.


It speaks to
other issues as well. Certainly they are part of the quality of life on the
Outer Banks. This type of activity is very much a part of why people who live
here, and our regular visitors--especially property owners, consistently say
the autumn is there favorite time of year.


There is
also, underlying all the fall entertainment and activities a belief that the Outer
Banks is much more than a one season wonder--that with the right activities and
the right promotions people will keep coming here in September, October and
November. And the other seasons as well . . . its probably that if you live
here, you tend to fall in love with the place, but there is life even in the
off seasons on the Outer Banks.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:42:52 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.resortouterbanks.com/blog/newly-constructed-coastal-homes-showcased-in-annual-parade-of-homes.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.resortouterbanks.com/blog/newly-constructed-coastal-homes-showcased-in-annual-parade-of-homes.html</link>
            <author>lori.brooks@resortrealty.com (Resort  Realty )</author>
            <title>Newly Constructed Coastal Homes - Showcased in Annual Parade of Homes</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
The
Outer Banks Parade of Homes is one of those events that seems to combine just
about everything. Certainly its about the business of building, buying and
selling homes--yet its way more than that. There is the design, innovation and
craftsmanship that goes into the homes; and there is the setting, for the
Parade of Homes is very much about a way of life and the beauty of the Outer
Banks.


Its
difficult to tell how successful this type of event is until after the fact,
although both brokers and contractors felt there was better, and more
qualified, interest in homeownership than there has been for several years.
Its difficult to know just what is creating the increased interest in Outer
Banks homes, though two thoughts kept reappearing.&nbsp;


There is a
general sense that the US economy although not yet healthy, is stable, and
there seems to be confidence that investments can be made. Perhaps more
importantly, though, banks appear to have eased some of their lending criteria
to qualified buyers. Although credit requirements remain high, there can be no
doubt that banks are once again writing mortgages.


But thats the
business side of the Parade, and the fact is, many of the homes that were on
display are second homes or retirement homes. And that underscores the power of
the Outer Banks--people come here because of its beauty and the lifestyle that
represents.


The weather
cooperated--bright sunshine, temperature in the low to mid 70s and a pleasant
breeze off the ocean.&nbsp;


That
combination played beautifully into creating a picture perfect afternoon at
Inside Out in South Nags Head.


A remarkably
well crafted home, it has a light, airy feel and uses space extraordinarily
well. What had everyone talking, though, was the third floor. Well, the view
from the third floor, actually.&nbsp;


Slider doors
open to a panorama of the Atlantic Ocean--a vista of the sea that may be the
most powerful and beautiful of any home on the Outer Banks. The open kitchen
and living room design take your eyes right to the outdoors and seems to
accentuate its beauty.


That type of
design imagination was apparent throughout the tour. At the other end of the
beach--in Corolla--Sol Mate, also had a very airy, open feel, although the view
of the ocean was not quite as magnificent. Ten bedrooms, gathering areas,
living rooms or rec rooms overlooking the ocean--it did not feel cluttered or
cramped. Yet the design feature that truly stood out was the 2000 square feet
of covered outdoor living space. Tiki bar, outdoor TV, seating area--it made
the house feel even more spacious than its almost 5000 square feet.


These were by
no means the only homes showing this level of innovation and quality, which may
be the reason that the Parade of Homes has kept going for 19 years and it looks
like the 20th will be coming up next October.


Both Inside
Out and Sol Mate are part of the&nbsp;SAGA Construction&nbsp;portfolio of homes.


Photo&nbsp;&copy;Saga Construction
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:40:00 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.resortouterbanks.com/blog/easy-home-inventory.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.resortouterbanks.com/blog/easy-home-inventory.html</link>
            <author>lori.brooks@resortrealty.com (Resort  Realty )</author>
            <title>Easy Home Inventory</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
The great thing about the
American success story is how creative we have become in achieving it. Its not
so much that we reinvent ourselves, its more that we invent new ways to use
the skills we already have.


Mike Siers and his wife, Stacy, got to the
Outer Banks about seven years ago, just in time to see the real estate bubble
burst. Stacy, with her real estate license, and Mike, with previously having a
general contractors license, knew it would be tough, but they were committed
to being here, committed to succeeding and began taking the steps necessary to
realize their dream.


At Stacys suggestion, Mike got his realtors
license. &ldquo;It seemed like a good idea,&rdquo; Mike recalls.


Hes been working in Outer Banks real estate
for a number of years now, and recently became the newest Resort Realty agent.
Like any agent, hell work with any buyer or seller if the opportunity presents
itself. There are some areas, of course, where he is more comfortable.
&nbsp;&ldquo;Its the water that brought me here. Boating, fishing, soundside,
oceanside. Its what Im comfortable with. I really enjoy it.&rdquo;


Yet as Mike developed his real estate career,
Stacy began to see other opportunities in the Outer Banks housing market. In
talking to insurance professionals the couple began to see many, if not most,
local homeowners were not as well protected against loss as they should be. &ldquo;If
you ask any insurance agent, they all want you to document what you have,&rdquo; Mike
says. &ldquo;They all say inventory your items.&rdquo;


A few months ago, Mike and Stacy launched Coastal Home Inventory&nbsp;&nbsp;(252-489-9451). &ldquo;What we do
is inventory everything and put it all down,&rdquo; Mike says.


Offering a number of different levels of
reporting, from video recordings, to computer files, to a standard written
inventory, Coastal Home Inventory creates documentation that can be used for
more than just inventory claims. &ldquo;We dont estimate anything, we dont want to
get into that,&rdquo; Mike explains. &ldquo;If they have their receipts for purchased items
well insert that into the report..&rdquo;


&ldquo;When we inventory your home, you have a list
of your items in your rental home allowing for constant record&rdquo; he goes on to
say. &ldquo;Its sort of like an owners manual of your home.&rdquo;


Homeowners have been surprised--pleasantly--at
the level of reporting and quality of the finished product. &ldquo;We did one
(inventory) for a gentleman who has five oceanfronts,&rdquo; Mike recalls. &ldquo;And after
we finished the first one, I handed him the report and he was amazed by a.) the
video and b.) the in depth report. Then when I told him the glass on the range
in the kitchen was broken and had been broken for a while. Theres a lot of
liability there. His answer was, &lsquo;Ive never had a chance to look at all this
stuff.&rdquo;


Its that ability to see a need and respond to
it that ultimately creates those success stories.&nbsp; The Siers saw a need
and have been responding to it. &ldquo;90 to 95 percent&nbsp; of us dont understand
the importance of accurately doing this and dont have the time to perform it
as well,&rdquo; Mike adds.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:12:01 -0500</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.resortouterbanks.com/blog/parade-of-homes-2011.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.resortouterbanks.com/blog/parade-of-homes-2011.html</link>
            <author>lori.brooks@resortrealty.com (Resort  Realty )</author>
            <title>Parade of Homes 2011</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
For
19 years the Outer Banks Parade of Homes has been a showcase for everything
that is best about owning a home on the Outer Banks--true craftsmanship in
construction, innovative design and beautiful settings. For the second year in
a row, Resort Realty will be teaming up with&nbsp;SAGA Construction to show the
outstanding features of a SAGA built home and talk about the advantages of
property ownership on the Outer Banks.


&ldquo;We are
pleased to partner with SAGA construction in representing their fine homes to
our Parade of Home attendees,&rdquo; Chris Toolan, Business Development Director for
Resort Realty, says. &ldquo;These superior investment homes and our experienced and
dedicated real estate brokers will provide an elevated experience to those who
attend the event.&rdquo;


Brokers for
Resort Realty will be showing two oceanfront homes this year--one in Corolla
on Lighthouse Drive in Whalehead and the other in South Nags Head on Old Inlet
Road.


With their
reputation for reasonable pricing, quality construction and a wide variety of
floor plans available for homeowners, SAGA is a natural fit to partner with
Resort Realty. &ldquo;Its a mutually beneficial arrangement,&rdquo; Julie Short, Realtor/Broker
for SAGA, says. &ldquo;Working with the experienced brokers (from Resort Realty) will
help our clients visiualize what their home will look like.&rdquo;


With lot
prices at very affordable prices and mortgages rates at historic lows, there
may never be a better time to get into the Outer Banks housing market. Or
course, an Outer Banks property is not just an investment--although that rental
income is important. We understand that for most of the people we talk to, that
house is a home; a place that will be filled with memories of family and
friends and may someday be the primary residence for your family.


Because so
many of the properties people are buying today will be the family homes of the
future, the quality of the construction and understanding the market is more
important than every. Resort Realty, with our proven record of property
management success seems a natural fit for a partnership with the premier
builder on the Outer Banks.


&ldquo;We are very
excited about this years Parade of Homes and our involvement with the Outer
Banks Home Builders Association and SAGA Construction,&rdquo; Michael Harrington, CEO
of Resort Realty of the Outer Banks, says. &ldquo;SAGA has consistently supported and
won several divisions in the past, and our Brokers are proud to be affiliated
with such fine entries that feature the best of the best in home construction
on the Outer Banks.&rdquo;&nbsp;


Tickets can be purchased at Resort Realty offices for $10 (proceeds support the Outer Banks Food pantry.)


Dont forget
to turn in your Parade of Homes ticket. Resort Realty and SAGA Construction
have partnered to provide the donation of The Atlantis Home to the Outer
Banks Home Builders Association. The "Getaway Giveaway" will be a ONE
WEEK VACATION (vacation must be taken between Parade conclusion thru May 15,
2012) for a randomly drawn&nbsp;winner from the returned Parade tickets. &nbsp;


(Photo from OBHBA)
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:29:02 -0500</pubDate>
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