Outer Banks Real Estate Blog

Croatan Woods on the Sound

2010-07-15T10:33:00.000-04:00

There’s a new neighborhood emerging amidst towering hardwoods near a private, soundfront beach that features sweeping views of the Croatan Sound from a large, gracious gazebo.

Croatan Woods, on the north end of Roanoke Island, is truly a gorgeous piece of land. Village Realty Outer Banks will have a one-day launch sale at the property on July 31 featuring low prices not seen since the 1980s.

Owned by the Harvey family since 1958, the tract offers one of the last chances to live in a waterfront community surrounded by areas of undeveloped property.
Just think seclusion.

Bob Oakes, president of Village Realty in Nags Head, feels so strongly about the property, he said he would recommend it to high school friends.

“I think the north end of Roanoke Island is a premier location,” he said. “The location is really neat, there’s a beautiful little soundfront beach.”

Croatan Woods represents the first venture on Roanoke Island for Village Realty, one of the oldest, family-owned vacation rental home and real estate companies on the Outer Banks.

Oakes said the property, with its soundfront beach, marsh and high, wooded lots, speaks for itself.
“I think this is a wonderful time to purchase land on Roanoke Island,” he said. “There are not too many opportunities left there.”

Bettie Blanchard, an associate broker for Village Realty and listing agent for Croatan Woods, said the Harvey family has long dreamed of developing the property.

As a long-time resident of Roanoke Island and life-long friend of the Harvey family, Blanchard has a unique insight on the project. She also shares similar views with Oakes.

“This whole piece of property is the last of its kind,” she said. “Those lots are absolutely beautiful. It really is gorgeous land.”

In addition to the high lots and hardwood trees, Croatan Woods also offers easy access to all of the things that make Roanoke Island a unique place to live or visit.
The first thing that comes to Blanchard’s mind is the recreational activities close at hand.

“I’m all about the Roanoke Island lifestyle,” she said. “The Mann’s Harbor Bridge is the place for rock fishing.” There’s also crabbing and deep water nearby.

But for Blanchard, who can often be seen walking along the bike/walking path that starts at Pirate’s Cove and extends beyond Croatan Woods to the Croatan Sound, there’s much, much more.

She rattles off the island’s facilities with ease: a bike/walking path from bridge to bridge, the new College of the Albemarle campus with an $8 million art building, The Island Farm, and two new schools.

“We have beautiful schools,” said Ruth Ann Ross, also an associate broker with Village Realty. “A kid can get on a bike and safely get to any school.”

And there may be more children than ever living on Roanoke Island as government facilities continue to lure people to live there.

There’s the new Dare County Center complete with a workout facility, the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island as well as several new projects including the proposed University of North Carolina’s Coastal Studies Institute.

And don’t forget downtown Manteo with its “Mayberry” feel, Festival Park, marina, a boardwalk along the sound that’s more than a mile long, gazebo, lighthouse, a soundfront park with seating and picnic tables, as well as plenty of shops and eateries.

As Blanchard said, Croatan Woods on Roanoke Island offers a unique island lifestyle that’s hard to find these days. Oakes feels so good about it all that he’s already shared the idea with his high school friends.

For a preview of this land or for any additional information regarding Croatan Woods or the one-day launch, call Blanchard at 252-305-9371 or email her at BettieBlanchard@VillageRealtyOBX.com.

SHAG OBX Weekend

2010-04-23T15:30:00.000-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –

Contact:

Charles Gill, SHAG OBX Committee Chair
seapadre@charter.net

SHAG OBX Weekend Supports Community Care Clinic of Dare

Dance Lessons, Local Artists, Live Music and DJ’s this May 7-9, 2010

MANTEO, North Carolina (April 23, 2010) – If you love beach music and dancing, you’ll want to take advantage of shagging with the best at the Outer Banks’ newest dance event, SHAG OBX this Mother’s Day Weekend, May 7-9, 2010. On Friday night, shag to your favorite hits with DJ’s David Jones and Ed Timberlake, with a special exhibition by champion instructors Sam and Lisa West. On that Saturday, take shag lessons during the day from the West’s and line dance lessons with Sharon Jones from the Outer Banks Shag Club before hitting the hardwood to beach favorites and a live performance from Jim Quick and Coastline that night. On Sunday, come to “Gospel Shag” at 9:30 a.m.

OBX SHAG is also hosting an art show on Saturday, May 8th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on-site at Pirates Cove during the dance lessons, with local artisans and crafters displaying and selling handmade pottery, clothing and jewelry. If you would like to participate as an artist and set up a booth, contact Sue Mason at iamsuzee@aol.com or call 252-216-9303. SHAG OBX is sponsored by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau in partnership with local businesses to benefit the Community Care Clinic of Dare, which serves the needs of the uninsured and underinsured on the OBX.

The beautiful waterside venue for SHAG OBX is Pirates Cove Pavilion and Marina in Manteo, centrally located for the gorgeous beaches, great local restaurants and unique. You can purchase tickets locally on the Outer Banks at Gray’s Department Store in Kitty Hawk, Garden Deli Pizzeria of Manteo, or BJ’s Carolina Café of Jarvisburg. Tickets are $45, whether you come to one or all of the weekend events. The price includes entry for shagging on Friday (4:30-11 PM), and for Saturday afternoon/evening (again 4:30-11 PM)… Gospel Shag is free for all on Sunday, with our without a ticket. The lessons are $10 each (there are two Saturday shag lessons offered, one at 10 AM and the other at 2 PM; line dance lessons from 3-4 PM). To check out the full list of events and reserve your tickets, go online at http://www.shagobx.com/.

About The Outer Banks

The Outer Banks of North Carolina is a 130 mile chain of barrier islands located midway on the Atlantic Coast. The Outer Banks Visitors Bureau is a public authority and the lead marketing and promotional agency for Dare County's Outer Banks. www.outerbanks.org

Outer Banks Visitors Bureau

One Visitors Center Circle, Manteo, NC 27954

252.473.2138 • 877.629.4386 • 252.473.5777(fax)

Roanoke Island • Hatteras Island • Dare Mainland

Outer Banks Real Estate

2010-02-23T14:04:00.004-05:00

During a time period when many real estate agents have been struggling due to a sluggish economy, Matt Myatt has learned to use a variety of tools to stay on top.

So far in 2010, he’s already sold a lot in Southern Shores and has another lot sale pending in Frisco. Other deals are cooking too, Myatt said, as he works his territory from Carova to Hatteras Village.

He did so well in 2009, that he was named the Sales Agent of the Year by Village Realty Outer Banks, with offfices in Corolla, Nags Head and Columbia, North Carolina.

According to Myatt, one key to his success is accessibility. He carries his Blackberry smart phone every where he goes. That way, he can stay connected to his clients whether by phone, text or email.
“One of my secrets is response time,” Myatt said. “Some of my clients are amazed at how quickly I get back to them.”

The smart phone enables him to be available seven days a week, 24 hours a day, he said. Some would say it’s glued to his hip. “It never leaves my side,” Myatt said.

A 2002 graduate of Elon University, he said a background in computer information systems also helps him in other ways when it comes to technology based marketing.

Another secret to his success is image.

Myatt likes to portray a successful look and so far, that’s worked for him.
He drives a 2008 Yukon XL Denali because it gives his clients plenty of room and comfort when looking at properties, Myatt said. The vehicle’s tag displays the Elon logo.

And it’s no secret that potential customers judge their agent’s level of success by what they drive.

As for attire, Myatt’s “beach preppy” look includes polo or golf shirts, khakis and flip flops when it’s warm.

Myatt admits he always wears his trademark “shades,” which are sporty Costa Del Mar sun glasses.

Although he has three or four pairs of the same type, Myatt said he’s worn a certain pair for the past year since sales have been strong for him. “I just keep wearing the hot pair,” he said.

Somewhat superstitious, Myatt said his wife Jenny teases him when he wears a favorite shirt when he meets clients.
As for Jenny’s take on the smart phone and non-stop work week, Myatt said she tries to take it all in stride.

They try hard to set a side quality time to be together, but when a client calls, Myatt admits, he goes back to work.

“She understands,” he said. “You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.
“We just try to work around it,” Myatt said.

To find out more about Myatt, go to website http://www.mattmyatt.com/

Corolla

2010-01-18T15:15:00.000-05:00

If you are reading this you may be thinking about buying some land or a home on the Outer Banks of NC.
Or not. Either way, we thought you might be interested in hearing more about the Corolla Wild Horses on the northern Outer Banks

The Corolla Wild Horses have survived nearly 500 years of fierce Nor'easters and hurricanes. They are truly representative of the Outer Banks spirit – untamed and rugged – and are an integral part of what draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to the northern beaches every year. Nowhere else can you see wild Mustangs walking along the beach and grazing among beach houses.

The Corolla Wild Horse Fund (CWHF) was formed in 1989 by a group of concerned citizens to heighten awareness about the presence of wild horses in the area. As the Currituck Outer Banks became more and more developed, 20 horses were killed or injured by vehicles on Highway 12. Corolla Wild Horse Fund worked with Currituck County and other agencies to have 12,000 acres of the northern-most beaches defined as a horse sanctuary. By 1996, the remaining horses were relocated behind two sound-to-sea fences.
The mission of the fund is to protect and preserve the last remaining herd of Spanish Mustangs on the northern Outer Banks. The Colonial Spanish Mustang is on the Critical Breed list of the American Livestock Conservancy and on the Critical list of the Equus Survival Trust.

CWHF was voted the 2008 Non-Profit of the Year by the Currituck County Chamber of Commerce. The headquarters are in the Old Corolla Village, where an interactive wild horse educational museum and museum store are located. Visitors are welcome year round and children's activities are offered during the summer.
The best way to enjoy seeing these magnificent animals is to take a "Wild Horse Tour". There are several companies in Corolla whose knowledgeable guides can take you where the stallions roam.

For more information, go to http://www.corollawildhorses.com/

This article was written by Karen Gregory; a year ‘round resident of Carova and a Village Realty Vacation Specialist in our Corolla office.
Village Realty proudly supports the Corolla Wild Horse Fund and hopes that you will consider donating to this worthy cause.

Words of Wisdom

2009-11-24T09:37:00.001-05:00

"Each of us will one day be judged by our standard of life, not by our standard of living; by our measure of giving, not by our measure of wealth; by our simple goodness, not by our seeming greatness."

~William A.Ward~

The recent economic downturn has been devastating to many people and families. There is a light at the end of the tunnel but I think that what happened is helping a lot of people to re-prioritize and take stock of what is really important in life.

No one has to keep up with anyone else. No one needs a new car every year or a bigger and newer TV each time a new model comes out. Sure, all these "things" are nice to have but years from now no one will remember what size the screen was on the TV or how many pairs of shoes they owned.

People remember how you made them feel. Your kids will remember the time you spent with them, not what you bought them. Remember the old saying that the best things in life are free? OK, I know we have to have medical care and a place to live and so on. But, we do not need to live above our means just to try to impress others. That is what got many people in trouble in the first place.

That does not mean that people should not buy ... but buy for the right reasons. If you always come to the Outer Banks each year for a vacation ... it may be time to consider buying a vacation home here. Do your homework first ... how much house can you afford, what is the best rate you can get...interview some sales agents and be honest with them on how much you can spend, what you want and when you can buy. If you are set on a house in Corolla, or one that has a hot tub, make sure you relay that to your agent. No need to waste your time or theirs if you know exactly what you want.

Loans are harder to get now but they are available. It is still a buyer's market and actually an excellent time to buy a home. Prices are right and owners are motivated. But this won't last forever so if you are "waiting" for the perfect time to buy--it may be now.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Are We There Yet?

2009-07-31T11:07:00.005-04:00

Are We There Yet?????

Bill Nance, Senior Associate Broker, Village Realty (c) 2009 Village Realty. All Rights Reserved

When the topic is real estate, the question at the top of most everyone’s list is: Have we reached the bottom in the decline of home prices?

As with the stock market, only time will tell when the bottom occurred at some point in the past. The charts below reflect the past and predicting the direction of the short and intermediate term future of the real estate market is way, way above my pay grade. I do believe that, in time, the real estate market on the Outer Banks will make a recovery. How strong that recovery will be and how long it will take depends on many factors that few of us possess the capacity to predict, influence, or much less control; i.e., overall strength of the U.S. and world economic recovery; availability of mortgage financing for investment properties and second homes; more reasonable financing terms for jumbo loans; and most importantly, a continuing low interest rate environment. All of these factors weigh heavily on the decisions of buyers and sellers of investment properties and second homes.

For homeowners that want or need to sell their homes in the near term, recognize that the perceived value of your property by prospective buyers is significantly influenced by the list and sold prices of comparable foreclosed (bank owned) properties and comparable property short sales. That is the current market reality. But, on a positive note for many buyers and sellers, lower sales prices have significantly improved the ratio of rental revenue to sales price. For sellers, this increases the appeal of vacation rental properties to a greater percentage of prospective home buyers. And, for a large number of prospective buyers, the cost of owning a second home or investment property on the Outer Banks is significantly more appealing because of the improved rental revenue to sales price ratio.

So, “Are we there yet?” That question will remain unanswered for several months. I expect average and median sold prices to continue to be volatile for some time to come. The rate of foreclosures has not abated and may have, in fact, accelerated somewhat in the past couple of months. This will continue to significantly influence the average and median sales prices. Historically, the second quarter of each year most often produces the highest volume of sales. Second quarter 2009 total sales, average and median sales prices were up from the first quarter, which has been a recurring trend for second quarter sales in each of the past five years. The good news in the data for the second quarter is that, for the first time since 2006, the average sales price for the second quarter reflected an increase over the first quarter and the decline in average and median prices appears to be slowing. It will take several months to determine if the recent bounce did, in fact, mark the bottom of the market. The third quarter of each year has historically produced the lowest sales volume of the year and the low point for average and median sales prices. Although, the fourth quarter proved to be the low point of 2008 for total sales volume and average and median sales prices. Perhaps this may later prove to have been the bottom of the market decline on the Outer Banks.

Real Estate Tips ... did you know?

2009-07-20T10:34:00.007-04:00

If you ask a Real Estate Agent about a listing, they actually represent the seller. However if you ask them to be your Buyer's Agent (even for a day) they represent your interests.

There are three types of Agents; a Buyer's agent, who represents the buyer, a Seller's Agent who represents the seller and Dual Agent who represents both the Buyer and Seller.

A Dual Agency is created when your Buyer's Agent is showing you a listing from their own firm.

Here is the tip...when in doubt ASK!

This tip from The Village Star publication in June.

Outer Banks Fireworks

2009-07-02T12:57:00.003-04:00

Fireworks on the Outer Banks 2009

Duck's Annual Fourth of July Parade
July 3rd. Starts at 9 a.m. Afterwards there is music by Ruth Wyland and Friends at the Duck Town Park. For registration information please contact the Town at 252-255-1234. Website: www.TownofDuck.com

Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo
July 4th. 8 p.m. A pre-fireworks show featuring music and dance. Outdoor Pavillion in the Park. 252-475-1500. Website: www.RoanokeIsland.com

Kill Devil Hills Fireworks Display
July 4th at dusk. Located at the Avalon Pier on Milepost 6 on the Beach Road. Website: www.kdhnc.com

Nags Head Fireworks Display
9:25 p.m. Nags Head Fishing Pier at Milepost 11.5 on the Beach Road. Presented by the Town of Nags Head. Website: www.TownofNagsHead.com

Manteo
July 4th is a full day of fun featuring children's games, contests and a flea market. That night, enjoy the NC School of the Arts Pops Concert at Roanoke Island Festival Park. Enjoy the fireworks displacy over the Roanoke Sound. Website:www.manteo.govoffice.com

Corolla
July 4th. Saturday from 5 p.m. until ? Free Admission. The fireworks display starts at dusk but come early to enjoy food and music. Please bring a blanket or chairs. Website: www.VisitCurrituck.com. Please note that the boat ramp at Currituck Heritage Park will be closed on Saturday, July 4.

Outer Banks Real Estate

2009-04-16T15:39:00.001-04:00

The Outer Banks Real Estate Market Update
by Bill Nance, sales manager, Village Realty

(C) 2009 Village Realty. All Rights Reserved.

The Reality

A December 31 headline in the Wall Street Journal read “Home Prices Declined at Record Pace in October” noting that the S&P Case-Schiller data on the sales of single family homes in 20 major metropolitan areas across the country showed a return to 2004 levels. This was followed by a report in January that average home prices in the 20 metropolitan areas in November had “plunged 18.2” from November 2007.

While the real estate market on the Outer Banks differs significantly in many ways from the markets that make the national headlines, the Outer Banks has certainly not been immune to significant declines in sales and property values since the annual average and median sales prices peaked in 2005. The charts on the adjoining page [to obtain the charts, please call for our Village View newsletter, 877.482.4242] provide sobering evidence of the decline in sales volumes and average and median prices. Total sales of single family homes in the report area (Corolla to S Nags Head including Colington) for 2008 declined 27.5% from 2007; the annual average sales price declined 10.5% and the median sales price was down 8.2%. As a point of comparison, National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported a 14.9% decline in the national average sales price and a 14.8% decline in the national median sales price for single family homes. Total home sales for the report area in Q4 2008 were down 37% from Q4 2007.

Even though sales volumes continue to trend downward, there are buyers in the market looking for the right opportunities. But the statistics reflect the absence of a sufficient number of buyers to effect even a modest change in market trends. Owners expecting to sell their properties in this highly competitive market must accept that buyers have a distinct advantage. The challenge for sellers is not limited to the size of the unsold inventory of homes. There is also pricing competition from the foreclosed, or bank owned properties, and the short sellers (homes listed for sale at a price less than the mortgage debt); a relatively new phenomenon that has emerged over the past couple of years, at least on the Outer Banks.

Seller’s Approach to This MarketSo how should an owner who wants to sell, or is compelled to sell for whatever reason, approach this market? First and foremost, be realistic about price expectations. Prospective buyers are very well informed of current market trends and conditions. They are looking for properties that are competitively priced and, in their view, provide good value for investment. Bank owned and short sale properties are typically priced somewhat lower than other similar properties and are most always sold “as is”; i.e., the seller will not pay for any repairs. Some of the bank owned properties have been stripped of furnishings and fixtures and may reflect neglected maintenance; but properly priced, they can pose serious competition for the sellers of well maintained properties of similar size, features and location. Properties that are overpriced for this market will get little, if any, attention, or be outright ignored by prospective buyers. Sellers must realize that no amount of advertising or promotion will overcome a pricing disadvantage. In this market, price is king. There is simply nothing to be gained from putting a property on the market at an unrealistic price. Even if a seller should get to the point of contract at a price above the current market, the property must still clear the appraisal hurdle. This means that recently sold comparable properties must support the contract price. Otherwise, the contract price will most likely be subject to renegotiation with the buyer; thus, opening the door for the buyer to walk away.

The Recovery
There are some economists predicting that a recovery will begin in the second half of 2009 while an increasing number of others say that it will be 2010. Typically, the second quarter of the year is the peak buying season on the Outer Banks so we may see some rebound in the volume of sales. However, there is no evidence that suggests that the real estate market is on the precipice of entering a recovery process on the Outer Banks or elsewhere. Confronted with the continuing economic uncertainties, stock market volatility and rising unemployment, buying a vacation home is simply not high on the priority list for many families these days. Buyers in this market are bargain shoppers. But, in time, a recovery will begin, sales will increase reducing the inventory of unsold homes and prices will stabilize for a period of time before home values begin to recover.

In the meantime, Village Realty continues to market our listings aggressively and to work with our buyer clients and prospects in identifying real estate investment opportunities on the Outer Banks. The reduction in sales prices has significantly improved the ratio of rental income to purchase price providing buyers of vacation rental homes with much improved cash flow opportunities and improved affordability for second home and retirement home buyers. Despite some reports to the contrary, mortgage money at historically low rates for conforming loans (loan amounts up to $417,000) is readily available for credit worthy buyers with sufficient cash for down payments. Jumbo and super-jumbo loans (loan amounts above the $417,000 threshold), while available, pose a somewhat greater challenge regarding rates and loan-to- value ratios. The first step for a serious buyer should be to get prequalified by a lender. Village Realty agents are available to assist buyers with this process. Prequalification provides buyers with guidance regarding price affordability and improves their ability to focus on homes priced within their financial means.

The Return to Normalcy
The Outer Banks continues to be a very special place and increasingly popular vacation destination. Normalcy will return to the real estate market. That means fewer properties for sale and, in all probability, at prices higher than they are today. Buyers should be keeping a watchful eye for that special place that meets their investment or quality of life objectives. There may not be another value opportunity equal to the present. The experienced agents at Village Realty are market savvy and ready to assist you explore the real estate opportunities on the Outer Banks.

(C) 2009 Village Realty. All Rights Reserved.

The data used in compiling the results reflected in the graphs was extracted from the Outer Banks MLS. The data extracted is limited to single family detached home sales (excludes condos, townhomes and duplexes) in the communities from Corolla through S Nags Head including Colington, which is termed “Beach Area” for purposes of this report. The information used in the compilation of the graphs is deemed to be reliable but not guaranteed.

Good Time and Good Timing

2007-12-06T09:56:00.000-05:00

Tonight is our annual Christmas party, which will be held at Penguin Isle Restaurant. Our party is not one of those stuffy affairs; it is fun, fun, fun! We truly look forward to it each year. The food is delicious, everyone is dressed up and it is a nice time to reconnect with co-workers you may not get to talk to much during the year.

While surfing the web before I came into work today I ran across a great article on MSN Careers; 'Top 10 Holiday Party Offenses'. Some interesting stuff and I wanted to share with you. A lot of this is geared towards a more corporate atmosphere but still good advice.

I hope that your Christmas party is as fun as ours will be!

The Top 10 Office Party Offenses

1. Thinking you are not required to go. OK, we are all busy and let's be honest..we are all tired after leaving work. But, unless you have an unbelievably good reason for not attending the annual Christmas party, make the effort and go. Not doing so speaks volumes about your attitude towards the company you work for. And you might just have a great time after all. Management has put forth effort to make you feel like a part of the work family and that should be appreciated by everyone. I know that here, we have a committee that has been working for weeks to make our party a success.

2. Dressing inappropriately. Do not dress like you are going out to a nightclub or looking for a date. Even if you are going out later, keep in mind that at a company function you need to blend in. Do not try to make a statement with your very stylish clothing at the party; it is not the right place or time to do so. My first thought when I read this was they were talking about very high heels, very short skirts, too much make-up, flashy jewelry....you get the picture.

3. Eat something before you go if there is a cocktail hour before dinner. If you have not eaten in a few hours and have even one drink, it can go straight to your head. If you start feeling warm and fuzzy and realize you have not eaten it is a good idea to put the drink down and switch to water and find some food.

4. Party night is not the time to pitch ideas to upper management. Managers do use these events to meet and spend time with the employees they may not get to see or work with on a regular basis but they are not looking to strategize at the party.

5. Getting drunk. Seventy percent of companies are serving alcohol at their holiday party this year which represents a 15 percent drop from last year. There is a reason for this! If you drink too much and say or do something you'll regret (and chances are good you will)........other people are going to remember it. Bottom line, do not drink too much. Don't do it. Please. Not only will it embarrass you (maybe not that night, but later and for long time to come) but it will make your coworkers uncomfortable and could ruin your chances for advancement. No matter how big or small your company or how amusing you were or thought you were at the party after some drinks..think about it. Is your boss going to send you to a big conference if they have to stop and wonder if you will be doing a drunken electric slide at the convention?

6. Hooking Up. Co-workers who may secretly harbor feelings for each other may think (after a few drinks-read #5 again) that it is OK to show their feelings at the party. Again, don't do it. Act like you do at work. You are not paid to get cozy on the job and the annual holiday party is an extension of your job.

7. Bringing a crazy date. If you bring the "life of the party" with you, there is a good chance that he or she will make the night unforgettable-and not in a good way. (See #2 and #5 again). There is a saying "You are known by the company you keep." Do not give your boss any reason to wonder if you are not as you appear to be while working. If your date starts to make a scene, leave the party. We have all been to parties where a co-workers date gets drunk, obnoxious, combative, foolish or a combination. It makes others uncomfortable.

8. Being a scrooge. Don't be a Debbie Downer and come to the party with a scowl on your face and/or a "I have to be here but I do not have to have fun" attitude. Even if you are not excited to be there, keep it to yourself. See #1 again. Most of the people you work with want to be there and are looking forward to it so do not ruin it for them. One of my old bosses once said "If you are not in a good mood when you get here, fake it". And, you might end up having a great evening in spite of yourself.

9. Not using your best table manners. Again, I would guess that manners go out the door when you drink too much so there is one more reason not to do so. Remember your manners, bottom line. Please, thank you and so on.

10. Dirty dancing or executing athletic displays. If there is dancing at your party, great! More fun for all. However, this is not the night to bump, grind, do back flips or spins on the dance floor. And have you noticed that the more people drink the better they think they can dance. Unfortunately, that is usually not the case. Keep in mind that some people love to watch other people embarrass themselves.

Posted by The Village Realty People at 12/6/2007 8:25 AM | Add Comment

Go With It

2007-10-30T14:49:00.000-04:00

Well, yesterday I went off on cell phones so in keeping with the "pet peeves" theme let's go over what bothers both employees and employers most in the work place.

I did some research on various websites and here is the concensus of the top pet peeves.

From the employee point of view:

Condescending tones used by their bosses

Public reprimands

Micro-managing. This would drive me crazy. Thankfully, I have never had a supervisor who felt that they had to micro manage my duties or performance or any task I was assigned. If you have hired the right person, why do you need to micro manage them anyway?

Loud talking in the office. Enough said on that one.

Cell phones ringing. Sound familiar?

Personal conversations of their co workers

Using speaker phones in public places

From the employeers (the Boss!) point of view:

Abuse of sick leave. Calling in sick when you are not. Not only does this make it harder on your co workers but it also makes it very difficult for your supervisor to plan when and how the work will get done.

Poor hygiene. This one surprised me a little but it makes sense. I guess I am lucky to work with clean people!

Cubicles that are cluttered and messy. One photo is fine, your favorite vase with fresh flowers is nice. However no one needs to see your collection of Precious Kitty figurines or Star Wars figures or your owl collection. It is not professional

Obnoxious cell phone behavior. No one should be receiving multiple personal phone calls at work. Period.

Bad table manners at a business luncheon or dinner meeting.

Chronic complaining. One person can bring the mood of the entire office down. I have seen it happen. One of my former bosses once had some good advice. She said "If you are not in a good mood when you get to work , fake it."

This was interesting research. Sometimes we all need to remember that anyone can be replaced at work; no one is indispensable. So, turn off your cell phone ringer, put the troll collection in your desk drawer and get to work.

Till Next Time,
Your OBX Blogger
JM

Hang Up

2007-10-29T08:40:00.000-04:00

Last week it was so busy that I did not have the time to post; not even once. When I write something, I have to take my time, think about what I want to say and how best to say it.

Although it was a crazy week I did find time to go out to lunch one day (sometimes you have to step away from your desk) and a co-worker and I ended up at Mulligans in Nags Head, where we always get good food.

One of my pet peeves is cell phones; not the phones themselves but the way they are used and abused. Unless you are the President, the head of an ongoing military campaign or a doctor (medical) on call, I do not feel that you have to have your ringer on every where you go. Most phones these days are programmed so you can set to vibrate. You can feel that you have a call but the ringer does not interrupt or intrude on anyone else in the vicinity.

How does all this relate to my lunch, you may be asking. Well, there was someone at another table who was on her cell phone when we walked in and throughout almost our entire lunch continued her conversation. I got to hear about her visit here, how many Long Island Ice Teas she was going to drink and other personal details that I really did not want to hear but had no choice. This despite the fact that her lunch companion was sitting right across the table from her.

Then another couple walked in and their cell phone started ringing too. I know there are emergencies, and being a parent myself, I know you want to be available in case your children need you. But come on, you do not have to be talking to someone all the time. And how can someone be so rude as to carry on a conversation on the phone while their lunch, dinner, breakfast companion just sits there? I am certain that they, the cell phone users, do not realize they are being rude.........but they are. People, myself included, sometimes tend to talk louder on the phone than they normally do............and that makes it worse.

How many times have you been in a check out line and the person in front of you is on their cell phone, as they check out, holding up progress? Annoying, isn't it? How about when a phone rings in church or at a wedding.....that is certainly special, isn't it? Another pet peeve is people talking on the phone while they are doing their grocery shopping. Enough said.

Cell phones ringing at work are very distracting. Not talking about work cell phones, but personal ones. All those different ring tones.....all those conversations.....personal conversations.......are distracting. Again, we all get personal calls at work, that cannot be helped but if it is your kids, spouse or friend calling on either the land line or your cell phone, keep it short. I see people on their way to work, at 7:30 AM, talking on their cell phone. What could possibly be that important first thing?

And of course the biggest complaint of all is drivers on their cell phones. Studies have shown positively that this is dangerous. I do not care how proficient you are at multi-tasking, when you are on the phone you cannot give your driving the attention needed. One of my daughters told me that she was in the car with a friend of a friend last week, someone visiting from out of state, and this person was the designated driver when they (4 women) went to a concert in DC. Washington, DC. Lots of traffic. This driver was not familiar with DC but that did not stop her from texting on her cell phone while navigating traffic. My daughter was horrified and asked her to stop.

A few months ago I saw a man on a motorcycle, that was moving, talking on his cell phone. I cannot make this stuff up.

Cell phones are a great invention, and they provide a useful service. I am all for them, although I do not own one right now. But, I am almost at the point where I think anyone who has one has to pass a "Cell Phone Etiquette" or "Do's and Don'ts of Cell Phone Usage" course. Seriously. And I do hope that NC starts ticketing drivers who talk or text on cell phones while driving. No exceptions.

That is it for my Monday rant. We are all entitled to opinions and these are mine. Feel free to weigh in.

Hope your week is stress free and productive.........
Till Next Time
Your OBX Blogger
JM

Age

2007-10-10T10:23:00.000-04:00

What is the age when you become officially "old"? Some people say age is a state of mine. Excuse me, my knees beg to differ with that.

I remember when I was younger, with one baby on my hip and the other holding my hand; tired, stressed out and always busy. I used to look at my parents and think "I can't wait till I am their age and I can do what I want". How naive.

Growing old presents challenges as does any thing in life. Money, health, family issues, balancing work and home..........all the usual things that life presents to us on a daily basis.

Being old does have some advantages depending on your situation.

You can go to bed at 7 PM if you want to

You can sleep late on your days off

You can eat strawberry shortcake for dinner

You do not have to cook dinner at all

There are no rules about what to watch on TV, for anyone.

You are not so caught up in what people think anymore. Hey, by now if somone does not like you then nothing you do is probably going to change their opinion.

When you go out to dinner you do not have to pack a diaper bag or purse full of toys for the kids

You most likely have your priorities straight. Family first, always.

Hopefully, if you are still working, you like your job

Your "windbag/pompous/arrogant/jerk" detector is pretty well developed by now. No need to waste time on some people

You have become friends with your children

You realize no matter how old you get, your children will always need you

Your friends are true friends by now. Accepting and there for you.

You realize you look great in glasses

You really have learned to say "No" when someone asks you to do something that you do not want to do

Grandchildren.......the best part about growing old.

Growing old on the Outer Banks is getting easier. Now that we have more doctors and especially a hospital, our health care issues are improving. There are many senior citizens who live here year 'round and many of them are very active. There is lots to do here as far as volunteering goes, if that is what you are interested in.
As we head into Fall here, the social season kicks into high gear and we will have more on that as the events get closer.

Till then,
Your (Kind of Old) Outer Banks Blogger

Complaints

2007-09-28T11:50:00.000-04:00

Complaints. You get them no matter what business you work in. We are all human and "stuff" happens.

There are web sites and articles written on the most effective way to get what you want when there is a problem with service or goods paid for.

From Bankrate.com:

"Whether the issue is a lumpy bed or a fraudulent charge on your credit card, victory at the complaint counter hinges more on strategy than on the volume of your voice"

I found that statement on the Internet the other day and it really struck home with me. It accompanied an entire article on MSN devoted to stories of complaints and how they were or were not resolved and then went on to advise consumers how to complain effectively. Very interesting. Most of it did not deal with the hospitality industry but it nevertheless brought back memories of my Owner Liaison days with both Village Realty and other places I have worked since moving here in 1972.

Some of them are doozies. Way back, I was one of the people who helped to open up one of the larger hotels on the Outer Banks. First time I ever used a computer! The experience helped me in my future job in the rental management business. In the hotel business there is at least one emergency every day....count on it.

Some are big ones.........like the entire housekeeping department cannot get to work because of weather and you have an almost full house and how are you going to get the rooms cleaned and you know you will somehow end up cleaning some rooms yourself even though you are a "Manager" and wore your new outfit, complete with high heels, to work that day. Whew. Or, the power goes off on the island for 18 hours and you have to check guests in by flashlight. Or, you have a guest who drinks too much at a function at the hotel and then asks you for directions to a bar.....planning to drive there. You have to be the one to tell him that if he gets in his car, you will call the police. Or, you have to walk the halls all night because the hotel was rented out to a "Youth Group" who are actually a bunch of young soon to be criminals in the making and terrorize other guests.

Some of them were small like a TV did not work. The good thing about a hotel is, unless you are totally booked, which does happen in the summer, you are probably able to move a guest to another room.

That is the difference between hotels/motels and vacation rental homes. You cannot just move a guest when there is a problem, depending on what the problem is of course. Each home is different and each home is owned by someone else. Someone who has entrusted that property to you. Someone you, as a member of their property management team, have a fiduciary responsibility to.

We also have a responsibility to the guests. They have been planning their vacation for a long time and in fact many book 51 weeks ahead. They have anticipated a wonderful week at the beach. That is what we want for them too.

However, things do go wrong, just like they do at people's homes. The washing machines break, the hot tub motor dies, the screen door falls off the hinges. No way anyone could have known any of this would happen but it happens during your vacation. Then, instead of going to the beach or enjoying lunch out the guests have to go in to the rental office to let us know of a problem. We do not think you should have to spend valuable beach time with repeated visits to complain either. However, we do have to have time to fix whatever is wrong and that may mean calling a maintenance tech, calling an outside vendor, calling the owner if the item was under warranty or all three.

Now, I have seen postings on message boards where previous visitors suggested that, if anyone had a problem while on the Outer Banks, especially regarding a home they were renting, they should go to the office and (a) take as many people as possible into the office at the same time and get everyone to start yelling (b) take all the kids and let them run around the office (c) tell the manager that one of their group is a lawyer (d) or just yell and yell until they back down.

Why would anyone want to act like that? First of all, it is not effective. We, and I speak for Village Realty here but I am sure that other rental companies feel the same way, want to "make it right" for our guests. The hospitality industry counts on word of mouth and repeat business. We are trained and retrained in customer service. Attitude, follow through and courtesy.............pretty much "The Golden Rule".

In other words, if it was my daughter on the other end of the phone or across the counter, how would I want her spoken to? Or, if it was me, same thing. And, thankfully, I think that most people who vacation here are understanding and patient and realize that things do break and that the rental company is doing their best. That helps.

Back to the post on MSN; it went on to state some important points for the consumer:
1. Be calm, not confrontational. Do not yell or threaten. You do not want to alienate the very person who can help you
2. Get the other person's name and use it during the conversation. Keep notes of what you talk about
3. State your case and have documentation (receipts, notes, etc)
4. State exactly why you are upset and what will resolve this issue for you
5. Then, listen to the service representative and give them a chance to make it right. Patience may be required because not everything can be worked out right then depending on the type of problem and the area, the industry and other factors. Act like you believe that they want to make this right for you
6. If you are still not satisfied, go higher up in the company. Politely ask for the supervisor or manager.

Good advice although there have been times, when I was on hold for the second or third time after finally figuring out the phone maze for a utility company, that I just wanted to either give up or go to the office with a Taser and make someone listen to me. Don't interrupt me and do not dismiss me. Sometimes, and again I speak from experience, people simply need to vent......to feel that they are being heard and taken seriously. That applies whether the problem is about a $48 coffee maker or a $4800 week at the beach.

Good customer service is key. Key to your reputation, your repeat guests and your business. Good customer service means not only treating your clients with respect but also your co-workers. Makes sense...but sometimes people forget that your co-workers are your internal customers and are every bit as important as your paying ones.

Things happen.....people get upset. That will never change. What is a small problem to one person may be a huge deal to the next person. Perception is reality to the person with the problem. And when you are talking about someone's vacation......their down time, family time, reunion time.........their concerns need to be addressed as quickly as possible.

One thing I always found a great sense of accomplishment in was "turning" the situation around. An angry guest called or came in with a complaint. Did not matter whether I felt it was a big deal or not, it was important to them and that was what mattered. If I was able to resolve the problem, usually with the assistance of one or more of my co-workers, to the guests satisfaction hopefully that is what they will remember. That we made it right and they ended up having a wonderful vacation. It is a good feeling. It is also a good feeling when you know you can count on your co-workers in other departments to help make things right.

In this day and age with so many things automated and new technology popping up almost daily, I think people, all people, really appreciate good customer service and especially "the personal touch". It makes a difference. One of best compliments I heard was from a competitor on the beach, someone who works for another rental management company. She said that "Every company has a 'hook'; something they are known for. Village Realty is known for customer service." I was pleasantly surprised that a competitor would tell me that. We do work very hard here because in all honesty........as I say it, "Your Vacation Is Our Business".

Have a wonderful weekend.
Till Next Time,
Your OBX Blogger

By the way, next week is Customer Service Week!

Things that make you go hmmm?

2007-09-26T10:12:00.000-04:00

Things to think about...a friend sent some of these to me last night and I thought they were funny. Plus, it meant most of my blog post was written and it is a busy day so enough said. And, you might need a laugh today.

If a pig loses it's voice, is it disgruntled?

Why are croûtons in airtight packages? Aren't they just stale bread crumbs to begin with?

Why isn't the number 11 pronouned "onety-one"?

Do Lipton Tea employees take coffee breaks?

What hair color do they put on driver's license for bald men?

If Fed Ex and UPS merged, would they call it Fed UP?

I was thinking that older people seem to read the Bible a lot more and then I realized that they are cramming for their final exam.

You never really learn to swear well until you start to drive

If a cow laughed would milk come out of her nose?

If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen are defrocked then why aren't electricians delighted.....musicians denoted.........cowboys deranged........models deposed........tree surgeons debarked and dry cleaners depressed?

Shouldn't it be called a flutter-by instead of a butterfly?

If it is true that we are here to help others then what, exactly, are the others here for?

If you put the words THE and IRS together...........you get........"Theirs".

Did everyone used to be dehydrated? Back in my days, if you were thirsty you went inside and got some water or you drank it from a water hose. Why do people spend $2.00 a bottle for Evian Water? Spell Evian backwards......."Naive".

I wonder what the speed of lightning would be if it did not zig zag

Tomorrow we will talk about "how to complain successfully"...should be interesting.
Till Next Time,
Your OBX Blogger
JM

Riches

2007-09-25T12:09:00.000-04:00

Before coming to work yesterday I was surfing the web and came across an article on the richest Americans. We are talking billionaires.......big bucks........mucho dinero.

I started thinking about how nice it would be to be "rich" and never have to worry about money again. The best part would be that I could help my family, which would make me very happy. You know, pay off mortgages, set up college funds, travel.

When my husband and I buy lottery tickets we always play the "What would do with the money" game on the way home. I think everyone must do the same thing.

Having a lot of money can definitely make life easier I imagine, although not always necessarily better. That depends on the person and how they live their lives. Having a lot of money comes with a certain amount of responsibility too.

So, what is "rich"? Is it just money? Although that is the first thing that comes into my head when I hear "They have money or they are rich" that is not the only barometer for "wealth".

When I asked some co workers what makes them feel rich (not counting money) or blessed here are some of the answers I got:

Family
Children; being with them, nurturing them, watching them grow up. Teaching them
(Note: everyone I asked said family and spending time with family was what made them feel blessed or rich)
Good friends
Laying on the beach with no cell phone, no book, nothing to do at all
Taking the Beach Road to and from work each day
Free Time
Health
Your surroundings. We sure hit the jackpot here. Living on the Outer Banks year round is wonderful.
Quiet Time; just for you
Helping someone
Enjoying the work you do
Counting your blessings
Good schools for your kids to attend
Good Teachers

One thing I vividly remember about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was that almost every survivor said something like "We lost everything but my family is OK". You hear tornado victims say the same thing. Sure puts things in perspective when an event like that occurs.

Being able to take a vacation, no matter where or for how long, is also one of life's "riches" in my opinion. That is one reason we enjoy what we do. We can help someone find the best home in the best area for their trip here. It is not brain surgery but it is important. People wait 51 weeks for their get-a-way and it is our job to help make that time as relaxing and stress free as possible. It is a nice feeling to finally meet someone you have been speaking with or emailing back and forth for months. It is even better when those same guests come back year after year.

So, thought for the day is "Am I rich?". Think about it.

Till next time
Your OBX Blogger
JM

NC

2007-09-19T13:35:00.000-04:00

How much do you know about North Carolina? We are giving this quiz to everyone in the office, just to see.

OK, ready?

Q: Who is the Governor?
A: Mike Easley. Democrat

Q: Who is the Lieut. Governor?
A: Beverly Perdue. Democrat

Q: What is the state motto?
A: "To be rather than to seem"

Q: What is the state flower?
A: Dogwood

Q: What is the state tree?
A: Pine

Q: Name the state insect
A: Honeybee

Q: Name the state reptile
A: Eastern Box Turtle

Q: What is the state song?
A: 'The Old North State'

Q: What is the nickname for NC?
A: The Old North State

Q: Name the state fruit.
A: Scuppernog Grape

Q: What is the state beverage?
A: Milk. (What, Milk? Why not wine since the scuppernog grape is the state fruit?)

Q: Name the state colors.
A: Red and Blue

Q: What is the state sea shell?
A: Scotch Bonnet

Q: What year did NC enter the Union?
A: 1789

Q: Name the state bird
A: Cardinal

Outer Banks

2007-09-14T10:11:00.001-04:00

I am headed to Hatteras later today for the annual "Day at the Docks" celebration.

"Sea captains extend an invitation to all sailors and landlubbers to join them at the 3rd annual Day at the Docks – A Celebration of Hatteras Island Watermen on September 15, 2007. Festivities will begin on the Hatteras village waterfront at 10 am and run until 5 pm, followed by a work boat parade and the annual Blessing of the Fleet." Click here for 2007 Schedule.

I hope the weather holds, this sounds like it could be fun and I might even learn something.

From the Day at the Docks website, here is the explanation of how this event started and why:

"Day at the Docks has its genesis in the aftermath of Hurricane Isabel in 2003 when a surge of ocean water crossed the island, carving a breech and isolating Hatteras Village from the rest of the island. The first people who were able to get back to work were the watermen. The charter group worked out an arrangement to ferry their customers into and out of Hatteras Village for their trips. The commercial group, thanks to the fish dealers' negotiations, sold its catches when fish trucks were given permsission to cross on the emergency ferry.

The community celebrated the "end of the siege" when Highway 12 was rebuilt with a musical evening and a dessert feast in the Hatteras United Methodist Church. One year later they decided to honor the spirit of Hatteras on the anniversary of the great storm with a Blessing of the Fleet and a Dance and Desserts in the village fire station.

Due to its success and based on suggestions from many people in the community a third element has been added.

The Spirit of Hatteras Weekend includes a day-long celebration of the watermen of Hatteras Island in Day At the Docks.

Watermen from all over the island participate in competitions, displays and exhibitions of their unique skills and we invite you to enjoy yourself as you view pictures from the celebration"

My husband has worked at the event for the past two years, providing sound equipment, speakers, mics, etc and says (a) it is fun (b) the food is great (c) he wants me to go with him this year. So, there you have it. I will give you an update next week.
Till next time
Your OBX Blogger

Today

2007-09-11T09:13:00.001-04:00

Today......September 11......6 years later. Difficult to think back to that day......the shock, disbelief, horror and sadness. Impossible to forget that day.........you remember where you were and what you were doing. You most of all remember how you felt; stunned. How could this be happening here, in the United States?

No matter how many times you see the plane hit the Twin Towers, you cringe. Each time you see the Towers start to fall, you cringe. This was no blockbuster, disaster movie that you could walk away from when the lights came on; this was terribly real.

To say that the terrorists attack changed lives is true, but maybe not in the way the extremists hoped it would do.

Personally, yes, I changed. I have even more respect for law police officers and fire fighters. More respect for doctors and nurses. More respect for our way of life and the people who uphold that. More respect and empathy for the everyday people who lost their lives in a valiant effort to prevent those planes from crashing. More respect for life. More cognizant of the fact that life can end in an instant.

And, more respect for my country. Yes, there are problems here........big ones. However, our inner core is strong and we do not break. We do not break. Whatever our problems now or in the future, our fundamental core and beliefs remain. Freedom. Freedom to say that there are problems, freedom to protest, to choose who we want to marry or live with. No matter how you feel about the current administration or our government, they need our prayers. And, we can pray.....another freedom.

One thing I kept hearing was Why? Why did this happen; why do they hate us? No answer for that; we might never have an answer. And there is no justification for what happened; none.

Six years later........people move on. You have to, no way to escape that..."life is what happens while you make other plans" or even if you have no plans at all. Those families who lost a loved one will never be the same; how could they be? Parents, children, husbands, wives, friends, grandchildren.......their lives are changed forever. Neither they nor we will ever forget what happened or that so many lives were lost. I do not presume to know how those families feel........I can only pray for them and hope they are healing, even if just a little. So many stories came out about the ordinary people, living their lives, going to work that day......on a plane that day.........doing their job that day.........who never got back home.

We saw what the human spirit is capable of, the good and the heroic. Strong families, strong memories and strong faith. We saw police officers and fire fighters and others go unflinchingly into danger, putting others first. Into the mix add grief, sadness, anger; but don't forget courage, resolve, charity, hope and love.

Changed? Yes......I think Americans drew their families a little closer, said "I love you"more often, and also reset some priorities. I hope so, but we are each only responsible for our own actions.

Living on the Outer Banks, we are naturally geographically "removed" from a lot of things, by choice and by nature. Some of us can go for months or even years, again by choice, without leaving here. Because it is small and because I have lived here so long, it feels safe. That did change on September 11, to some extent. There is no safe harbor from hate or fanaticism. However, it also made me appreciate even more what I have and where I live. And, I hope everyone else, no matter where they are from in this country, feels the same way.

Please take a few moments out of your day to reflect on your blessings and to remember those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

Thank you,
Your OBX Blogger

A Fellow Blogger

2007-09-05T10:38:00.000-04:00

Today we are sending some good thoughts, OBX love and well wishes to another OBX Blogger; Paula D, who posts her surf report and more on Queen of the Surf Pirates.

Paula and I have never met, although we have spoken and we do link to each others blogs. And, we read her blog and she reads ours..we have a little blogging community down here that includes Stuart and me, (we take turns writing), the software genius and wind surfer most excellent Bill Bell of OBX Beach Life,the handsome and charming Ronnie Roach, who posts on Outer Banks Real Estate, and the smart, funny, thought provoking and always fun to be around Bob Mueller who writes View from the Ridge; and last but not least we have Lovely Lyndi, who posts on The Beach Bus Blog.

Paula, our fellow blogger and friend is the mommy to 2 more than precious, simply adorable, 10 month old twin girls. She and her significant other live and work here on the Outer Banks. The other significant other in her life is her helper dog extraordinaire, Sammy the Surf Dog.

Now Sammy is truly a special dog; one look at his picture on Paula's blog and you can tell that. He is Paula's best friend, companion, protector and helper. A true helper, because Paula is hearing impaired and has a cochlear implant which does help, but Sammy is, to some degree, "her ears". And her hero.

Sammy and Paula were out walking Friday night when Sammy was hit by a drunk driver. Sammy stopped Paula from stepping onto the Beach Road and prevented her from possibly serious injury but in doing so, the car hit him. He has internal injuries and a broken leg and as of today is in Raleigh with Paula, at the NC Veterinary School where he is being well taken care of.

Paula's dad, a.k.a. 'The Colonel' called yesterday to give us an update. The Drs at the Vet School are doing their best to help Sammy and The Colonel was feeling good about that. Paula was holding her own, although missing her babies terribly (first time she has ever been away from them overnight), and worrying about Sammy. To make matters worse, her implant was on the fritz so she was relying solely on sign language. When the doctors and the vet hospital realized Paula was hearing impaired, they sent a vet who knows sign language right over to keep her posted.

So, for you OBX'ers who live here and those of you who want to live here and anyone who would like to do so; please send up a good thought for Paula and her family....and for Sammy. I know she will appreciate it.

Now, let me end today's post by saying that I am not, in all honesty, a "dog person". Never had one, do not want one. I like them, and respect that people feel very strongly about their pets. And again, I have never even met Paula. However, when you read someone's blog, you get a sense of who they are and what they are about. That is why this incident has touched me. Paula has a good and gentle spirit and you can tell she is a good mom. That is all I need to know.

The OBX Bloggers have already started talking about what we can do to help Paula and her family. We will keep you posted.

In the meantime, enjoy this day.
Till next time,
Your OBX Blogger

The Dance on the Outer Banks

2007-08-28T11:56:00.000-04:00

As I was driving home last night I once again started comparing the Outer Banks rental seasons to a big dance. You know, one of those fun, exciting, big name band kind of dances..where everyone is dressed up and ready to party...lots of great lighting, flowers and decorations...the kind of dance that everyone has been looking forward to all year.

In January, February and March.........the dance hall is pretty empty. Still looks nice, but a little lonely. You can see the caterers and event planners stopping by as they get ready for the big dance that will be here before you know it. And you even have a few dancers or party guests coming in, just to look around. Maybe they are shopping for their party dresses or seeing if they even like this particular dance hall. You know they will be back for the main event. You also see the housekeepers and maintenance men working on getting the dance hall clean and ready.......a big task.

April comes and the pace picks up. More and more dancers/party guests are coming by daily. The work by the "back of the house" staff continues and you start seeing some decorations go up. By now, especially at the end of the month, the band is starting to rehearse and the dance floor has been polished. Again, the dancers/party people are still stopping by, more frequently now. Then event planners are in high gear now.

May......the party begins. The early arrivals start. Somewhat quiet, smaller groups of them.....this may be their first dance or more likely, they have been to many dances and want to get a good seat...while the dance hall is still fairly empty. The event planners are there.....you may not notice them but they are working to make sure the dance goes off as planned.

June, July and August........Wow! The dance is in full swing now. Lots of people, all having a wonderful time. The decorations are amazing, the music is wonderful and the crowd is having a blast. Smiles everywhere. There is something to do for everyone, even if you do not dance. Catch up with old friends, meet new ones. The refreshments are delicious, such a variety, and the music is both energizing and soothing at the same time. The event planners move quietly throughout the crowd, smiling here, nodding there. They make sure everything is running smoothly and that everyone is having a good time.

September.....a subtle shift at the beginning........you can sense that the pace is slowing down. Not a bad thing, it has been a great dance but you are getting a little tired. Now that the dance floor is not as crowded, you can see some people you have not seen since March. Plus, the decorations still look great and the band is still playing. You are enjoying this. People are still dancing and you can tell the stragglers really do not want to leave. But the band is now letting you know that they will be playing the last song soon. The dance hall still looks beautiful......and you can appreciate the effort that was put into making the dance such a success

October and November.........The die hard dancers are still here and you even have some late arrivals coming in. The band has left but there is music still playing on the stereo. Everyone is very relaxed and it seems like they are not really here to dance now, they want to relax and unwind. Lots of talking among old friends. The decorations, although the dance is technically over, look even better than they did when the dance began. Maybe because you can see them better.

December........the housekeeping department and the maintenance crews are back. The event planners are too. They are reviewing how the dance went and how they can make it even better next year. Finally, they can relax...but just a little. There will always be some dancers coming in to get a preview and make their reservations for next year's event. You have to be ready. Now, however, is also when the event planners, the housekeepers and the maintenance crew have a private dance; to celebrate their success and toast each and everyone who had a part in it. In fact, lots of parties all over the island. You love the big dance and you are a little sad that it is over for this year but you also know that the dance hall needs to be cleaned, decorated and restocked. And all the dancers need to line up their outfits, and pick out their partners for next years bash. You will be ready.

You Might Consider Moving to the Outer Banks IF

2007-08-24T09:36:00.000-04:00

For those of you who think you might like living here year round and are seriously considering that; this list is for you.

You might or should consider moving to the Outer Banks full time if..............

1. You are sure you can live without a weekly trip to Olive Garden, Target, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble or Macy's

2. You do not see what all the fuss is about the big malls

3. You look forward to not ever getting lost because there are only 2 roads and in some places, one, to get you where you need to be

4. You still have not cleaned out the sand from your shoes from the last time you were here

5. You have an Outer Banks scene as the screen saver on your pc...at work and at home

6. Your shopping decision means deciding between Wal-Mart or K-Mart...and you are OK with that

7. You love clean air.........all the time

8. You love the smell of the ocean

9. You love to either surf, fish, hunt, read, walk the beach, spend time with family, spend time with friends, meet new friends every week in the summer, have company a lot in the summer or you like having no plans at all but can make every day interesting and fun yourself

10. You love to volunteer

11. You will not mind if everyone on the island pretty much knows your business

12. You like knowing everyone else's business

13. You love the sound of the ocean

13. You only have one clock in your office, and that is a tide clock

14. You are OK with the fact that if you call a plumber, electrician, or other vendor and they say "I will be there Monday'.........they do not necessarily mean NEXT Monday...just A Monday

15. You like hearing kids and grown ups your own age say "Yes Ma'am" or "Yes, Sir"

16. The Outer Banks sunsets make you stop and look and be thankful for being alive

17. You love to golf

18. You do not want to "have to" dress up

19. You do not want to "have to" do much of anything

20. And finally.........you are laid back, tolerant, accepting and enjoy your own company

Hair is Today's Blog

2007-08-23T12:47:00.000-04:00

One thing about being a girl/woman/lady is that when you find a good hair stylist/salon you stick with it. They are used to how you want your hair and you do not want surprises (well, sometimes you do but that is for another blog).

If or when either your hair stylist or your salon moves or relocates for any reason, you are not a happy camper.....even if it was unavoidable. This is what happened to me but it all ended well and I wanted to share.

My hair salon lost their lease and had to move temporarily to Southern Shores, which is not on my way to or from work. That means it is not convenient for me to go there before work or after work which means I was not going to be able to go there. Now, they are going to be building a brand new salon and that will be, once again, on my way so that is a good thing. The last salon was beautiful and also a fun place to go and I am sure the new place will be the same.

However, my hair was officially in the EMERGENCY stage and that is not good..not good at all. I needed a place that was close, good and reasonsably priced. My co-worker Lyndi told me to try 'A Cut Above' in Manteo. I had never been there but Lyndi's hair always looks good so I thought, what the heck and tried them last night. Maggie, our Nags Head Rental Manager, also gets her hair done there and it is adorable as is she!

Now, if you are used to high tech, glossy showroom type salons, this is not that. But.........these ladies know their stuff and they are so friendly and nice that it was a pleasure being there. Plus, once I was sitting in the chair I realized that one of the stylists, Missy, was an old friend of my daughters, and that Anna, who was cutting my hair (and it looks great if I do say so myself) knew me from my days back at The Galleon Esplanade and to top it off, the other customer is the Aunt of our receptionist extraordinaire. And Anna (the hair goddess) and our other part time receptionist are married to brothers. Small town......small world. And it was obvious that the women in the shop loved their work.

Anyway, we all talked about old times, Anna worked a miracle on my neglected hair which was over a month overdue for a cut and I met some new and some old friends. It was the perfect ending to the day and I was very happy with the way my hair looked. OK, I know this has been "all about me" but the real intent was to (a) thank Anna and (b) let my friends I know and those I have not met yet that this place is a find.

If you are interested give them a call at 252-473-1201. The shop is right on the main road in Manteo; just past the elementary school. Slow down when you see the school because their sign is hard to see and I did, of course, let them know that!

If they had a website I would give you the link but like I said, no high tech stuff here. Just talented, friendly people who will make you look even more beautiful.

Have a good one. And let us know if you have any thoughts, questions or topics you want us to blog about.

Your OBX Blogger

Ima Tourist

2007-08-21T10:37:00.000-04:00

These are questions that we have been asked about the Outer Banks. All questions are from "Ima Tourist" and the answers are from "Island Girl".

Ima: When is the best time to visit the Outer Banks?
Island Girl: Well, that is a matter of opinion and very subjective. The majority of visitors come in the summer when school is out. Everything is open the and there is lots to do. However, many visitors and locals think the best time on the Outer Banks is the fall or early spring. Great weather, less crowded and good prices.

Ima: So, where do you all go for vacation?
Island Girl: Everywhere. Some of the service industry staff (wait people, inspectors, restaurant owners, etc) actually go to work in a ski town over the winter and then come back here in the early spring. Locals usually do not take vacation in the summer; too busy. I used to take my kids out of school in the fall and winter for vacation and it was never a problem. I checked with 2 young mothers and that is still OK these days. In fact, one of the mothers said that depending on the child the teacher may help you pack their clothes if it means they will be out of the class for a week. I think she was kidding.

Ima: Have you ever heard of Starbucks?
Island Girl: Yes

Ima: Where do you shop?
Island Girl: Depends on what you are looking for. We do have some great mom and pop shops here and there is a WalMart and a Kmart and a Home Depot. If there is something we cannot find here, we can always let our fingers do the walking and buy online or drive to Elizabeth City or Norfolk, VA.

Ima: Are there schools there?
Island Girl: Yes, great ones. Award winning ones. And, we have a community college too.

Ima: Where is the best place to go grabbing for the orange crabs? We can only seem to catch the blue ones
Island Girl: Ummm...yeah...the crabs only turn orange after you cook them. All crabs are blue when alive

Ima: How do you name hurricanes?
Island Girl: Well, we do not name them, and honestly it is making me a little nervous even saying the "H"word this time of hear. However, I am here to help so the answer is below.

American forecasters started assigning names to Atlantic hurricanes in 1953, taking the idea from our military. They realized it was easier to communicate about a storm named "Betsy" (for example) than stating the latitude and longitude each time. Also more interesting, don't you think? Since there can often be more than one storm in progress at the same time, it keeps us straight as to which one is being talked about.

Everyone else soon followed suit and the World Meteorological Organization started assigning names depending on the part of the world. In the US, only women's names were used up till 1979 when men's names were added too. Each letter of the alphabet is selected except for Q, U and Z. The names may be French, Spanish or English since these are the languages of the countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean.

Now, let's move on to another question as this talk of ..well, you know...is making me nervous.

Ima: How much is it to ride the free ferry to Ocracoke?
Island Girl: Ummm...yeah...that would be free

Ima: How do you make sea glass?
Island Girl: Well.......we do not. Sea glass is made by Mother Nature. It is formed over many years of being washed up into the sand. The sand acts like a polisher. All the movement of the water tumbles the glass around in the sand, making it smoother and also creating unique shapes and textures. Sea glass or beach glass is naturally beautiful and no two pieces are alike.

Ima: Why are the lighthouses all painted differently?
Island Girl: So they can be distinguished easily. Actually, boaters and sea captains know which lighthouse is which by the light signals

Ima: What really happened to the Lost Colony?
Island Girl: No one knows for sure....and historians and and archaeologists still regularly come to Roanoke Island hoping to uncover new evidence as to the fate of the colony.

Ima: Check out time is 10 AM, but can I leave before then?
Island Girl: Absolutely not. Do not attempt to do so. We can tell if you make a run for it. Seriously, of course you can. Two things: Drive safely home and please come back

Turtles

2007-08-20T09:07:00.000-04:00

Today's guest blogger is Karen, from our Corolla office.

"About two months ago, a female Loggerhead turtle came ashore in the four-wheel drive section of Corolla to lay her eggs. Because of all the ruts made by off road vehicles, she couldn't make it far enough to the dunes to lay her eggs. A team of dedicated volunteers moved the nest to a protected spot at the base of the dunes.

Last night I was driving home to Corova Beach and I decided to swing past to have a closer look. Lo and behold....there were baby turtles emerging from the nest!

Coincidentally, I had just looked online to see when to expect the turtles to hatch, so I had the 24 hour hot-line number in the car with me. Knowing that these endangered creatures often need help to safely make it to the water I immediately called the volunteers. Before long, we had about fifty volunteers of all ages assisting these adorable critters as they made their way to the ocean. At first, seven emerged and then another twenty-one. With the volunteers hep, all successfully made it to the ocean. Much celebration followed (read beer drinking as this was Carova Beach on a Saturday night!)."

If you want more information about turtle hatching, please go to www.nestonline.org.

August on the Outer Banks

2007-08-16T12:44:00.001-04:00

The following is our perspective on August on the Outer Banks......and how we KNOW it is August without looking at a calendar. The perspective is from the vacation rental management point of view:

You know it is August here when:

1. The locals have a glazed look in their eyes

2. The Weather Channel is on at least one TV in your home........all day

2a. You have a hurricane tracking chart on your wall.....at home and at work

3. You know exactly how many days it is till Labor Day

4. You are probably short staffed at work because (a) the college kids have gone back to school and (b) the teachers who also clean homes in the summer have gone back to school. You manage!

5. You cannot eat dinner out because the visitors have found out about your favorite places and it is not a secret anymore.

6. You take the Beach Road to work........and realize you have not been to the beach in weeks

7. On the way home from work you take the Beach Road hoping to get a glimpse of the ocean

8. You have Papa John's Pizza on Speed Dial

8a. You ate cold pizza for breakfast.........two days in a row

9. No one in your office has a tan..not even a fake one

10. When you leave for work you ask your significant other "What time will you be checking in tonight?"

11. You call your teenage kids from work at 11 AM and remind them that check out was 10 AM

12. You have arrived at work really, really early in the morning......you know you can get more done when no one else is there and the phones are not ringing.

12a. You have not seen the top of your desk in a while

12b. You send yourself emails and voice mails from home....reminders

13. You wonder exactly how rich AC repairmen are

14. You have not been off the island for weeks

15. You will not be leaving the island till mid September at the earliest

16. You know every shortcut to avoid the bypass and get to (a) home (b) work (c) grocery store (d) the take out place

16a. You only make right hand turns

17. You plan your grocery trips for 11 PM or 6 AM

17a. Dinner.....2 words........Harris Teeter

17b. Strawberry Shortcake is fine for dinner

18. You are still surprised by how many people there are here

18a. You check out the license plates on cars........thinking of marketing ideas for the fall and winter!

19. You are starting to think about your own vacation.......someplace nice and quiet and uncrowded

20. You seriously think about going to NJ, PA, Ohio or Virginia because there could not possibly be anyone left there...they are all here!

21. You have wondered if a rollaway or even a sleeping bag will fit in your office

22. Everyone at work is still in a good mood........and they all know exactly how many days it is till Labor Day

23. You realize that although the Housekeeping Manager and the Maintenance Manager are your good friends, you have not seen them or spoken to them in weeks. Emails........yes

24. You end all phone conversations with friends with "See you after Labor Day"

25. You are tired............your co workers are tired......but you still love your job

26. You are already working on plans for 2008

You Will Like Living Here If.........

2007-08-09T08:52:00.001-04:00

It is too hot to think and also too hot to come up with a somewhat intelligent or thought provoking blog today. So here is another list.

"You would like living here year round if..........."

1. You accept that you will not seeing a lot of your friends from early May till after Labor Day; they are too busy and so are you

2. You like to put your feet and your fishing pole in the water at the same time

3. You like walking on the beach in January and finding yours are the only footprints you can see

4. You walk on the beach and find the ocean has left you a treasure of conch shells and starfish to gather

5. You like finding sea glass on the beach; especially sapphire blue

6. You do not have to change clothes to go out to eat. Just wear shoes if you are eating inside

7. You really do not like wearing shoes

8. You love John's Drive In

9. You are sad when John's Drive In closes for the season

10. You can go surfing on your lunch break

11. You can call in sick to go fishing and your boss knows it and does not care

12. You call in sick to go fishing or surfing and see your boss at the same place. She does not care

13. You could eat seafood almost every day

14. Sand does not bother you at all

15. You laugh when you hear weather reports from other places and they are saying it is going to be "windy".

16. You think 40 mph winds are not a big deal.

17. You trade in your BMW for a 4 wheel drive

18. You accept others lifestyle choices and do not judge...anyone.

19. You feel that hush-puppies should be one of the major food groups

20. Almost anywhere you go in the fall and winter, you are going to see someone you know

Outer Banks Dress Code

2007-08-08T08:48:00.000-04:00

1. Shorts are fine. All Year. Really.

2. If your flip flops match, you are good to go

3. Collared shirts are downright dress up

4. Dinner jacket?? Why do you need a jacket to eat dinner?

5. Many people do own the obligatory wedding and/or funeral suits but they often never see the light of day

6. Ties?? Not really. Hardly ever.

7. Winter coats.......maybe. Usually a sweatjacket or poncho will do.

8. Socks are optional.......almost always

7. T-shirts. Lots of them.

8. Never, I repeat, never wear socks with sandals.

9. Birkenstock clogs or Clarks shoes; comfort first

10.Shoes are optional once you are actually in the office.

Bonner Bridge

2007-07-31T10:13:00.001-04:00

The Bonner Bridge is critical for the safety and economic future of Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island. Please go to the site below and take a moment to complete the information which goes to our political leaders making the decisions.

Replace the Bonner Bridge - Action Alert
Speaking of resource protection areas, the Replace the Bonner Bridge Committee has issued the following information for your consideration:
Are you aware that the Wintering Piping Plover Critical Habit could
potentially have an impact and delay or interrupt the Bonner Bridge
replacement project? US Fish and Wildlife is accepting comments regarding
this issue through July 30. Go to www.replacethebridgenow.com and click on
ACT NOW to access a letter so that your voice will be heard on this
important issue.

Blogger's Block

2007-07-27T10:37:00.000-04:00

OK, today is Friday and Stuart, our usual blogger, is working in the Corolla office today. So it is up to me to write the blog. I have been sitting here looking on the web, reading articles, going through past emails trying to think of something to talk about. It isn't easy; this blogging stuff.

Our blog is not designed or meant to be (a) political or (b) too self promoting. We want to tell people about the area, attractions and sometimes, about us. Of course we hope they like what we write and click through to our website and look at our homes and then book a week or two.

And, we like to include things that will interest our owners and even our co-workers.

One of our co-workers is leaving us today to begin her teaching career. Harriet works in our Corolla office as a sales administrator although she started out in rentals. She has always been a favorite of mine and we are all going to miss her. She also happens to be the significant other of my associate, Stuart the Great. He said it will be weird knowing she is not working here anymore.

Harriet is one of those fun people that makes you glad to be at work. The Corolla office is much smaller than our main office in Nags Head and they are all a close knit group. I know there are mixed feelings about her leaving today; everyone is happy for her but now one of "the peeps" is gone. Such is life, I guess. Change is hard no matter what or how good it is. Our loss is her students gain. She will be a wonderful teacher.

I remember when I left ****(another rental company); I had a great offer from Village Realty and had to do what was best for me. My rental manager was wonderful, I loved my co-workers, got along great with the maintenance manager and the pool and spa manager and our IT person was a genius. I gave lots of notice, had my going away party, etc. The day I left I was sobbing and I cried every day for a week before coming to my new job.

But good things come to those who wait and now, all four of those people work with me at Village Realty! And, honestly...I could not think of a better place to call my work home than here.

Property Management is not rocket science, granted. But it is a tough business and you better be able to do from 4-12 things at once, while smiling! We take vacations very seriously here. It is an art and sometimes a gift to be able to answer the phone, greet guests, check people in and phone in a maintenance issue.......at the same time. If you do not have what it takes, it is apparent pretty quickly. You cannot fake it here.

When the owner of the company does things like take his brand new mattress off his bed to take to a house for a guest with a bad back.........when the rental manager takes ALL the guests laundry home and washes it, dries it, folds it and brings it back to them because the washer was broken and the part was not available for several days............that sets the tone. You have to laugh at some things you come across. We should write a book and maybe we will.

Well, time to work on some other things. I hope you all have a great weekend. If you think of any topics you would like us to blog about please drop us a line.

Harriett..........it has been a pleasure and I wish you all the best!

Till next time,
Your OBX Blogger

Guest Blogger

2007-07-26T09:46:00.000-04:00

Our Guest Blogger today is Chris Toolan, a Broker in our Nags Head office.

"I spent last weekend in Leesburg, Virginia at Morven Park for my step-daughter’s equestrian event. Pretty much my family spends every other weekend between Easter and Thanksgiving (unless I am with Real Estate customers…then my wife gets to drive the rig) on the road to similar inland destinations all over Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey Kentucky and some points further.

These aren’t my first choices of locations in the summer, I moved to beach long ago after trying to live in these places…it just happens to be a function of what my girl is passionate about and we end up creating great family time around it. For you it could be soccer, motorcycle rallies, baseball, cheerleading, boating, science camp…etc. Face it…if you have kids, they can really dictate what you do and where you spend your time and money.

My girl argues she is a native of the OBX, because she was born here…I say no because that really refers to folks that have generations of family here…so we settle the debate on “locally manufactured” or “home grown” etc. Her point is well taken…she grew up here and wishes to live elsewhere when she grows up. Sound familiar? I grew up working on a horse farm up north and wished I was raised with the Brady Bunch in California and/or get to my favorite vacation place in North Carolina as soon as I could drive. A life occupied by surf and sustained by a job to fix porch screens or catch fish for a living was always in my childhood dreams. My girl is going to move where more people are into horses…I wanted anywhere there were no horses…anywhere but my boring hometown! It always seems that opposites are what people dream about. If you have curly hair…you want straight; straight hair got you down? Go curly. Brown hair…blonds have more fun...short/tall, big/little...grew up in the country up north? Move to the beach down south.

My point is that I entirely enjoyed my stay in Leesburg last weekend, I loved the visit, and given all the road miles lately and the focus away from surf I picked up a Real Estate Magazine, checked out some farms and started really thinking of living there and keeping a second home here. I then realized A) I do not yet have enough money to do this…ya’ll spend a lot on Real Estate…and B) It was twenty years ago this month that I moved from there because I thought I was a miserable because of the place…I was not at the Beach!

I noticed a ton of cars around Leesburg had OBX stickers on them as do the cars when I go to the other inland locations (thank you…that somehow makes me feel like a rock star). While waiting on my wife and sitting in the parking lot at Target (which we don’t have here), I looked at the not so happy faces of the people who drove those cars with OBX stickers in the 90 degree (no ocean breeze) July heat…and realized I did not want to go out and find a bumper sticker of LSBRG for my truck. I’m not dumping on NOVA (Northern Virginia for “NOVA locals” in the know)… we have no 30 minute Metro ride here to take to major museums, theatre, high society and the capital of the free world; no major shopping malls (thank god), and very few rolling green pastures for ponies to hunt, run and jump…so I want to keep coming back to your beautiful part of the world.

When it’s all boiled down, you have to be OK with who you are, who you are with, what you do, what you got, and where you’re at. Once you figure this out…you’ll probably want to live somewhere else. I won’t ever leave here…it matches most of me and never (for such a small place) ever runs out of new surprises. I will always enjoy my weekend jaunts inland…the drive is not very far…but my attitude is correctly adjusted when I am here!

Don’t be afraid to explore your inner child and really figure out where you will be happiest….in today’s transient society, with telecommuting and video conferencing the norm not the exception, perhaps it’s time to take a personal inventory and make your dreams of living here come true (yup...we even gots high speed internet AND indoor plumbing).

Now is the time to buy and most of us here on the OBX are from somewhere else...…so feel welcome…we were all newcomers once. My philosophy has been “We’re all mutts…we’re Americans” (movie reference: Bill Murray/ “Stripes”)…our ancestors were kicked out of or ran away from every other respectable place in the world for the pursuit of freedom and happiness. Check out what is going on right now in our Real Estate market…I checked out yours in NOVA, but can’t bear to leave permanently. Come find out why.

Food Time

2007-07-24T11:43:00.000-04:00

So, I figured it was time to throw out a couple of restaurants that I have eaten at recently and would highly recommend. There is a restaurant on the beach road that has opened fairly recently called Mexi-Cali Bluez. It is owned by the same guys who own Mama Kwan's and the food is excellent. The fish tacos are delicious.

Duck Donuts is another place (not really a restaurant) that I would urge you to visit. They have a new location next to High Cotton BBQ (also delicious) and the donuts are made to order. They are warm, fresh and fall apart in your hands.

If you want to avoid the crowds then there are a couple of restaurants that are located on the other side of the bridge that might work for you. Greentails sits right on the sound and right next to the bridge on the mainland. You can eat on the screened porch and watch the sunset and the boats on the sound. They offer a variety of seafood, which you can get steamed, fried or broiled.

Feel free to suggest some of your own favorites.

Outer Banks Pick Ups

2007-07-23T10:59:00.000-04:00

Island folks are usually a different breed. Kind off off center, free thinking and with pretty much a "live and let live" philosophy. Back in the days before Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Walmart and K Mart, we also had to stock up on groceries, order almost any and everything by phone (I am talking pre websites here) and count on making do with what was available.

You know the saying "One man's trash is another man's treasure"? If you were throwing something away that you thought someone else could use you could put it in front of the house for a few days and see if it got picked up.

Nowadays, you can either call Hot Line or Goodwill or Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters and they will come and pick up large pieces of furniture or household items. However, there are still lots of people who simply haul their stuff out to the curb and give someone else the chance to take it home. It is interesting to see all the different treasures that are left out.

My husband is a sucker for thrift stores and also for "free stuff". He is forever bringing home things that we (a) have no use for (b) clutter up the house or yard (c) are ugly and will never be allowed inside the house under any circumstances.

About a year ago, maybe longer, he found two "wonderful" chairs "on sale" at the Hotline Thrift store in Kill Devil Hills. When I got home and saw them in the driveway I asked him ...parphrased here.."What the heck did you get those for?" He said they would look great in the house. I asked him whose house, cause they were not coming into ours. Long story...........they have been in the garage, on the porch, or in the yard ever since.

Finally, on Saturday I went to the computer and made a sign:

FREE: Please take these chair before my wife kills me

I took the sign to my husband, pointed to the chairs, gave him the tape and said "Put them in front of the house.....now." He looked at me, the sign, the chairs and back at me and then picked them up and set them out front.

Lots of people on bikes, walking and in cars passed by on Saturday and someone must have liked them because when we got up Sunday, they were gone.

I hope whoever got them is enjoying them. Please stop by again!

Have a good one.
Your OBX Blogger

Local Perspective

2007-07-19T10:55:00.000-04:00

Our Guest Blogger today is Jackie Freed; a Sales Associate in our Nags Head office. More thoughts on why it is great to live on the Outer Banks.

"I caught myself again, mid thought--stopped and took a deep breath. I turned my thoughts to laughing gulls and sparkling waters. I do this often in the summer. Usually when stuck behind a car loaded with beach toys, fishing rods and children. It's so easy to let angry thoughts take control, to get frustrated that it is taking you 35 minutes to go the distance that usually takes you 15. Not only do I change my thoughts to my beautiful surroundings but to my brother in law and his 3 children. This spring they left Kansas around 5 pm and drove straight through the 24 hours it took to get here; having spent the six months prior to leaving for their vacation planning, speculating and looking forward to every minute.

Did I really want to get angry at this person in front of me on the road, grocery store or restaurant? Just like our visitors look forward to coming, making their lists for things they want to do while here for their weeks vacation, I too look forward to certain things every Spring, Summer and Fall.

Below is a short list of some of those things.

Spring flowers at The Elizabethan Gardens. I recently attended a wedding there and was amazed at how many of those attending had never been there; including friends and family who live here!

Summer concerts on the lawn at Festival Park in Manteo.

Fishing: I won't tell you my favorite fishing holes but I will say you can usually have a bit of luck on any of the piers. Poles and bait are available to rent or buy right and the cost is minimal.

The opening of John's Drive Inn; a small (tiny) drive in on the Beach Road in Kitty Hawk. They have dolphin boats, sandwiches, burgers and the best peanut butter banana share ever.

Fresh crabmeat, soft-shell crabs, and the whole array of wonderful fresh seafood we have available to us.

Staying at the beach all day when the sun is hot, the water is warm and the green and the cooler is full of cold watermelon, sandwiches and beer.

In the Fall; driving over Oregon Inlet Bridge to Pea Island and walking the nature trail through the marsh. The different species of migratory water fowl never fails to entrall me...and they are so noisy!

Perhaps this is my peace offering to any visitor I've growled at; maybe they will find something from my list to add to theirs. Maybe it's a reminder for some of my grumpier and grumbling fellow locals that they do live in one of the most wonderful places in the universe. Life is really good!"

Why We Love Living on the Outer Banks

2007-07-18T08:35:00.000-04:00

We asked our co-workers to tell what they love about living here. The reason below was submitted by Durinda:

"Having been born and raised in the mountains, I had no conception how special it would be to live on the water. I live in downtown Manteo. Each day, at sunrise and sunset, I walk my dog along the waterfront, and the thought ‘how beautiful’ almost never fails to pop into my mind. The color of the water, especially in the winter, as the sun rises is simply breathtaking: satin ribbons of pale pinks and ice blues. There is always something new to see: otters in the water teasing my dog, a line of Canada geese with their little goslings floating in the water, herons fishing, a snowy egret in the marsh (who clearly thinks if he holds perfectly still, I can’t see him), fish jumping out of the water, and new boats visiting in the marina (coming upon a 100-ft yacht docked at the t-head surrounded by the usual 25-foot sailboats will wake you up in the morning!).

All the locals that are out and about shortly after dawn, even the garbage collectors, all wave and say “good morning”—let me assure you, this does not happen in the big city! Neighbors look out for each other here. If my closest neighbor is out before I am in the morning, he routinely picks up my newspaper and puts it at my front door. Another neighbor saw a person he had never seen before walking my dog and he was concerned, so he politely asked who she was (it was my visiting mother!). So many other examples I could share, but I hope these are enough to convey why I love living on the Outer Banks."

Helpful Hints from the Village (Realty) People on the Outer Banks

2007-07-16T11:41:00.000-04:00

We sent out a questionnaire the other day and asked our co-workers to email their answers back to us.

Number 6 on the list was "Please give a helpful hint or suggestion that you would like to pass on to our visitors"

Here are some of the answers:

1. Please use caution when driving. Do not enter an intersection until you are sure that the other cars have stopped. Every day during the summer there are thousands of visitors here who are not familiar with the area or our roads. Better safe than sorry.

2. Drive the speed limit on 158 (the big road). If you want to enjoy the scenic view of the Outer Banks, drive on the Beach Road. Allot of locals use this road almost exclusively in the summer. Yes, the speed limit is only 35 but there is less traffic and the view is better all the way.

3. The middle lane on US158 is not an acceleration lane. Please use carefully (see items #1 and #2). Hwy 12 --the Beach Road-- can be busy too. People are not always paying attention as well as they should. They turn without signaling, stop short and run red lights. Again, please be careful.

4. You are at the beach. You will have sand in your shoes, your bathing suit, your car and your pool or hot tub. Probably some in your food if you are eating outside. It is not "dirt". It is part of why you came to visit. The kids love it........Enjoy!

5. If your kids are into bugs, leave the pool lights on one night. In the morning you can can examine all kinds of bugs. The kids will be entertained and the pool will be cleaned!

6. Check with a local on where to eat. The check in office is a great resource. Another good resource is here:
http://www.ncbeaches.com/OuterBanks/Restaurants/. You can see reviews of area restaurants; the good the bad and the ugly. Some written by locals and some by visitors.

7. "Been there done that" does not apply to the OBX. There is no place, activity or event that will present itself in the same way twice.

8. Come stay a week or two in October, November, December. It is fantastic. See why locals love it here.

9. Spend lots of money; you are on vacation. Don't miss out on some great piece of artwork or that special keepsake that will remind you of your time here.

10. Relax. Easy to say, not always easy to do. If you have the time and resources to stay two weeks next time, please consider it. The first week is for destressing and the second week you can truly kick back.

11. If you are into antiques, check out those shops in Currituck. Some great stuff.

12. Even on the cloudiest days, you can and will get sunburned. Use sunscreen.

13. Please come back and stay again!

July 4th Trivia

2007-07-04T10:31:00.000-04:00

A 4th of July Quiz

1. The Declaration of Independence begins with what words?
2. What document was the legal framework of the United States?
3. Who wrote the words of the Star Spangled Banner?
4. How many stars were on the first United States Flag?
5. Who was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence?
6. In July 1776, how many people were living in the colonies?
7. The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are familiarly known as?
8. Whose signature is largest on the Declaration of Independence?
9. How many people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776?
10. Where was the Declaration of Independence signed?
11. Who was the main author of Declaration of Independence?
12. How many signed the Declaration of Independence?
13. What 2 Presidents died on Independence day?
14. What year was July 4th declared a federal legal holiday?

Answers
1. When the course of human events
2. The Constitution
3. Francis Scott Key
4. 13 stars and 13 stripes
5. John Hancock
6. 2.5 million
7. The Bill of Rights
8. John Hancock
9. 2
10. Philadelphia, PA
11. Thomas Jefferson
12. 56
13. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams
14. 1941

How did the name Uncle Sam come about?

The origin of Uncle Sam probably began in 1812, when Samuel Wilson was a meat packer who provided meat to the US Army. The meat shipments were stamped with the initials, "U.S.". Someone joked that the initials stood for "Uncle Sam". This joke eventually led to the idea of Uncle Sam symbolizing the United States government

Local Lessons

2007-07-03T10:07:00.000-04:00

Today we will start our series of "How to Sound and Act Like a Local".......or "What You Need to Know While on the OBX"

1. The Northern Outer Banks; Corolla. This town is one of the fastest growing on the Outer Banks. Now, one important, very important thing; it is pronounced "Kuh-rahl-uh". Unless you are spending your vacation in the back of a small Japanese car, you are not staying in KO-ROLL-UH. This is a big deal to the locals, heads up!

2. Manteo. Indian name, the town on Ronoake Island. Locals mainly skip the "t" and say "Man-ee-o". Manteo is where Andy Griffith lives (remember Andy? Mayberry? Aunt Bea?)

3. Cape Hatteras. Drop the Cape and say it like this; "Hatrus". Famous for fishing, beaches and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

4. Wanchese..........another Indian name. Lots of locals live here. Hardworking, honest and down to earth. Wanchese is also on Roanoke Island, on the southern end. Wanchese is the site of the Seafood Industrial Park, which processes millions of pounds of seafood annually. Next time you have that broiled mahi mahi or fried flounder, you can probably thank the hard working men and women who live and work there.

5. Many people still refer to the entire Outer Banks as "Nags Head". That is OK, we really do not mind that. However, Nags Head is only one of the many little towns and villages that actually make up the Outer Banks. These include Kitty Hawk, Duck, Kill Devil Hills, Rodanthe, Avon, Southern Shores, Manteo and more.

6. Kill Devil Hills is the site of the Wright Brothers Memorial and where the first heavier than air flight took place, back in 1903. Many local residents live in this town.

7. It takes about 10 years for you to be considered a true "local". I have been here since 1972 so I qualify. We have many true locals and many natives of the Outer Banks working at Village Realty.

8. If you have never been here in the fall you are missing out. The weather is wonderful, fewer crowds, everything is open and the locals are more relaxed then. Still lots to do. Actually, the fall and winter is when the locals party and there are several art shows, cook offs, plays, musical acts, charity events and many more activities going on.

OK...that is the lesson for today. If you have anything to share or question to ask please let us know.

In the meantime have a safe and happy holiday and thank you for choosing to stay with the Village Realty People!

Till Next Time,
Your OBX Blogger

Customer Service

2007-07-02T09:52:00.000-04:00

Customer service is so important, especially these days with everything automated or computer generated. We constantly have customer service training here at Village Realty and in fact, that is one of the things we are known for. Do we always get it right? No......but we will always try to make it right and we take vacations very seriously....Your Vacation IS Our Business.

Over the past year we have had training seminars incorporating suggestions, skills and ideas from Nancy Friedman; "The Telephone Doctor". Recently, Ms. Friedman published a book appropriately named 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly' with examples of customer service, both good and bad. We are in it!

Some background: A guest had stayed with us in a villa in Corolla and their daughter fell in love with a stuffed fish that the owners had at the property. When the guests checked out the little girl was crying because "Fishie" was left behind. Here is the rest of the story, taken from the letter the guest sent to our Corolla check in office:

""To the Owners of 'The Bates Motel, CL415'

Please! May I buy the multi-colored stuffed toy fish that is in the bedroom closet with the toys? Name your price! I will pay the shipping costs to send it to us if you are willing to sell it! I am truly am not crazy. My 6 year old daughter so dearly loves the fish that it breaks my heart. We have stayed in your rental home for the past several years. Last year, she sobbed about leaving "Fishie" behind. Wouldn't have given it a second thought BUT off and on all winter, she asked me repeatedly if she could go see "Fishie" and if "Fishie" missed her! She couldn't wait to get here this year--not for the beach, but for "Fishie". I hunted in every store on the Outer Banks to find a duplicate and couldn't (Yes, I spoil her--she's adopted). I was truly tempted to leave a $100 bill for you and take "Fishie" with us. I didnt' know if you would agree to sell it because I did not know how deeply your child is attached to it. PLEASE! Let me know! I seriously mean it--NAME YOUR PRICE! Could Village Realty mail it? Thanks."

After getting chills and tears in her eyes from reading this awesome story, Harriet Early, a Vacation Specialist for Village Realty, immediately called the owners of CL415. She read the handwritten letter from Mrs. Welsh to the owners. Well, MasterCard, if you want to use theis priceless story...feel free! The owner was delighted and gave "Fishie" toe the Welsh family--free of charge! Harriett drove over to the house, picked up "Fishie" and called Mrs. Welsh to let her know that "Fishie" was in the mail! Within a few days, Harriett received a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Mrs. Welsh with her sincere thanks!""

(Jeanne Willis is our offiicial "Fish Lady" at Village Realty and the one who coordinates our customer service training, always assists with parties, awards and more and the person who submitted this entry to Nancy Friedman.)

The Village (Realty) People Little Known Facts

2007-06-29T15:14:00.001-04:00

Some Things You May Not Know About the Village (Realty) People

1. We currently have 5 babies on the way

2. We have one Manager married to a Russian woman

3. One employee is from Nigeria and one is from the Czech Republic

4. We are the first company on the Outer Banks to go with a personalized brochure

5. One of our Rental Managers volunteers at the NC Aquarium and cleans the SHARK tank, and yes the sharks are in there when he dives

6. One manager was married in Las Vegas by "Elvis"

7. One vacation specialist went to college in Hawaii

8. One employee is from Scotland

9. We have a woman in our office who hunts with a rifle and a bow and arrow

10. We have a sky-diver

11. We have an employee who has taught English in Dubais, South Africa, British Virgin Islands and Oklahoma

12. One employee went to New Orleans to help with relief work after Hurricane Katrina (took a leave of absence from Village Realty)

13. One employee lives in the 4 Wheel Drive area in Carova

14. One employee is a retired Principal

15. One female employee took shop class in school, 3 years in a row

16. We are a current nominee for "Best on the Beach" on the NC Beaches web site. www.ncbeaches.com

17. We get massages in our office, two days a week.

18. Two employees are former make-up artists who used to work together

Dinner and the Theater, Outer Banks style

2007-06-27T09:38:00.000-04:00

Last night was "Ladies Night Out" and three of us headed to Manteo to catch the new entertainment in town; 'It's Showtime'...which is a musical revue, with a little magic, lots of dancing and singing and great costumes.

First we went to Stripers Bar and Grille, also in Manteo, for dinner. We had a window seat with a great view of the water and dinner could not have been better. Afterwards we walked on the docks for a bit before heading to the theater.

For the next 12 days or so, the revue is open to locals while the cast and crew tweak and perfect their already wonderful show. All you have to do is produce a local driver's license and make a cash donation to Hotline. There was a small but enthusiastic audience in attendance and everyone seemed to really enjoy and appreciate what this small troupe of performers and producers had to offer.

I think once word gets out, this show will be a bonafide "hit"....it has all the right stuff to make that happen.

We sat right on the front row and Jeanne, our Special Projects Coordinator, co-worker and good friend, was even "volunteered" to help the magician with some of his magic. Even sitting right there, no more than 12 feet from the magician and his assistant, we could not figure out how the magic worked..........but that is half the fun!

The young cast are all talented and multi-talented at that. Kids are going to love this show because it is lively, colorful and fun. Several decades of broadway shows and well known movie classics are highlighted including 'Oklahoma', 'Rent', 'The Wizard of Oz', 'Grease' and the list goes on.........it was a blast to watch and the audience was toe tapping, singing and clapping right along with the cast.

It was a very informal presentation and the producer/director encouraged everyone to come back again, because they are still getting started and the show is only going to get better. The goal and dream is to someday have a dinner theater venue here on the Outer Banks and we sure hope that dream comes true.

I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity and go see this show. In fact, go see it once while it is free (for locals only) and once again later in the summer and take a friend or two....it will be a fun evening out. The cast and backers and producers need our support so please also recommend to our visitors.

For more information you can visit the website and get times, ticket cost, etc. Take the family, support your local artist/actors and enjoy an evening out on the Outer Banks. The theater at College of the Albemarle has been transformed with lighting, good sound equipment and a nice set..........you will be amazed.

Till next time,
Your OBX Blogger

Massages

2007-06-26T10:34:00.000-04:00

We have something new going on at work........and it is wonderful. A massage therapist comes to the offices during the week. We can sign up for a massage that is given in the office, and although we have to pay for it the cost is very reasonable and we do not have to clock out.

You can choose a 20 minute, 25 minute or 30 minute massage and they all must feel great because my office is right outside of the "massage room" and everyone looks very relaxed.

So combine that with the lunches that our owners provide for us; (catered lunches), and the fact that we can wear shorts and flip flops to work...........and that we get to help people have a wonderful vacation.......this is a pretty wonderful place to work!

Speaking of work I have to get back to mine.
Till next time
Your OBX Blogger

Friday night dinner

2007-06-25T10:40:00.000-04:00

Friday night two friends and I went out to eat....and hit the jackpot. We ended up at Red Drum Grille and Taphouse on the Beach Road in Nags Head, about Mile Post 10. This is a locals favorite, and for good reason.

OK, it was Friday, lots of people, we had to wait maybe 10 minutes and it was noisy. That being said, the hostess was great, the waitress was great and the food was outstanding.

Normally I don't eat out in the summer, at least for dinner, simply because it can be really busy almost anywhere. Glad I did though because my meal was outstanding. Bacon wrapped mahi mahi with spinach and a sauce (cannot remember what it was, but it was delicious) and mashed potatoes.

My friends both got sandwiches and pronounced them "excellent". No room for dessert, too bad because I am sure they would have been good as well.

We are so lucky here; we have such a variety of restaurants to choose from and so many truly great ones for an area this sizes.

Stuart comes back Wednesday, I think, so we should be getting some details about his vacation.

Till next time,
Your OBX Blogger

The Great Village Smoke Out--Kind of

2007-06-22T14:53:00.000-04:00

Firday at last
We have reason to celebrate..........3 Village Realty employees have stopped smoking! It started with Amy in Accounting.......(yay for Amy)...she quit first. Our wonderful and fantastic Owner/Leader/Head Village Person surprised her on the 31st day with $300 in cash and a Congratulations card. Fantastic, yes?

Bob (the wonderful and fantastic Owner/Leader/Head Village Person) then announced that he would give any full time Village Realty employee the same $300 reward if they quit smoking too. That got things rolling and so far Virigina and Jeanne have also collected their incentive and we have two other employees who are working on it, with more to follow from the word on the reservation floor.

I never smoked but I know it is a very difficult habit to break. All three of the "official quitters" have said they feel better and are saving money.

That is it for today.......and I will be off on the weekend. Despite being our busiest week of the year so far it has been relatively quiet up in Web Services this week despite the fact that Stuart, my associate, is out of the office. Do not tell him that though; because he needs to feel guilty for taking a vacation and a cruise no less while I had to work.

Till next time,
Your OBX Blogger

Outer Banks Vacations

2007-06-21T08:48:00.001-04:00

Summertime, it is official now. Kids are out of school, it gets warmer and warmer, the AC bills go up and so on.

One of the best parts of summer is welcoming all the many visitors who come to the Outer Banks to spend a week, or even better, two weeks here with their families. Sure, there is traffic and yes, the restaurants are crowded but we do live here, in a resort area, and that is expected. It is nice to see the smiles, all the bathing suits, hear the laughing and especially seeing families sitting up on the decks enjoying their time.

Every morning on my way to work these days I see bikers, joggers and walkers all getting an early and healthy start to their day. You think that would motivate me, but so far, it hasn't! Same thing on the way home, when you see more people headed back from the beach.

Remember that it is now a state law that you must stop at the designated crosswalks when you see people waiting to cross the Beach Road. The big yellow signs are hard to miss but I confess I blazed through at least two of them simply because I was not used to seeing them. Be careful....stop! Our visitors are often in "vacation mode" and we need to watch out for them.

Crosswalk or no, I know that when I see a family waiting to get across the street, I stop and let them go. The old "Golden Rule" theory.

I wonder how Stuart is doing on his cruise? We will find out when he gets back next week.
Till next time,
Your OBX Blogger

It's Showtime!

2007-06-20T11:49:00.000-04:00

Starting June 25 there is a new family entertainment venue available on the Outer Banks. Shoreline Entertainment is bringing a musical revue to Manteo, featuring entertainment across America.

Running till August 31, "It's Showtime" will have singing, dancing, great costumes, fancy lighting and magic! Sounds like fun.

For tickets or more information you can call 252-305-0144 or vist the website at www.shorelineentertainmentobx.com.

Make it a day trip and go see other attractions at Manteo. What't to see? Elizabethan Gardens, Elizabeth II, the waterfront, shops and some good restaurants. Manteo is like an upscale Mayberry (remember? Andy Griffith?) and it is charming.

More later
Your OBX Blogger

President's Day

2007-02-19T09:51:00.001-05:00

Today is President's Day and if you are one of the lucky people who have the day off then I admit that I am jealous. It is cool down here on the Outer Banks, but the weather is supposed to hit 60 by the end of the week. There were a few snow flurries yesterday up in the 4 wheel drive area. Stay warm!

President's Day

2007-02-19T09:51:00.000-05:00

Coastal Provisions

2007-02-13T10:16:00.000-05:00

For the past several nights I have been getting a freshly prepared meal to go from Coastal Provisions. They are located in Southern Shores Crossing and offer a variety of gourmet foods. They offer a full service butcher, fresh seafood, beer & wine, specialty cheese, and chef prepared foods. They also offer catering services for weddings and other events. Check them out online at www.coastalprovisionsmarket.com.

New Bridge?

2007-02-07T09:57:00.000-05:00

They have been talking about this for years, but now it seems as if the Mid Currituck Bridge is actually coming into fruition. There is a great article about it here.

Valentine Dance

2007-02-05T09:46:00.000-05:00

This years Valentine's Dance at the Aquarium will be held on February 10th. The event is sponsored by The Lost Colony and The North Carolina Aquarium. Tickets are $50 in advance and $65 at the door. It will be professionally catered and there will be live dance music. There will also be a silent auction of Valentine gifts and flowers for your loved one. Enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres, a Valentine cake, wine, beer and a champagne fountain as well. All proceeds benefit The Lost Colony and NC Aquarium. Come on out and enjoy a romantic evening with the sharks....and your date. For more information, please call 252-473-2127.

It is Vacation time for us

2007-01-30T09:55:00.000-05:00

There isn't much happening on the Outer Banks this time of year. Many restaurants are closed and a lot of the stores are starting to restock for the summer. This is the time when a lot of business owners and other employees decide to take trips to warmer places. One of the more popular destinations for residents is Costa Rica. The western coast of Costa Rica offers warm waters, good waves and lots of sun. Many people end up staying for 2 or 3 months and some never come back. It is kind of funny to think that we leave one of the most popular vacation destinations to take our own vacations in other places.

Summer can wait

2007-01-29T09:05:00.000-05:00

We had some snow last night, which is always a nice surprise. Believe it or not this was enough to close schools here today. There wasn't too much that was sticking to the roads, but there were a few ice patches and there is no reason to take a chance with those big buses and all the kids. The snow seemed to come just at the right time for me. I always get into watching the Winter X Games, which are held in Colorado. Seeing all that snow last night on TV made me wish we had a little to see here. I guess I got lucky.

The Outer Banks Ranks As Top Ten Romantic Escape

2007-01-28T09:50:00.000-05:00

Be unpredictable this Valentine's Day. Why not take some good advice and steal away to The Outer Banks for some real seclusion. Mix it up with the one you Love. Coastal Living magazine listed the islands of The Outer Banks among its Top 10 Romantic Escapes in America in the January/February issue, citing us as one of the most elementally “out there” experiences of any bridge-accessible domestic destination.

This info was provided by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau

1st Annual Waterman's Roast

2007-01-25T09:55:00.000-05:00

The 1st annual Waterman's Roast will be held on January 27, 2007. The roast will benefit the Day at the Docks celebration. They will be roasting oysters and pigs and there will be a special appearance by Eph O' Neal, who is Hatteras' oldest working waterman. The event will be held at the Hatteras Village Civic Center, starting at 6pm. Tickets are $20 and are available at the following places:

Oden's Dock
Village Marina
Hatteras Harbor Marina
Teach's Lair
Ballance Oil Co.
Creative Ballance Salon

Come out and enjoy the food and fun.

TV is finally fun to watch again

2007-01-23T09:11:00.000-05:00

Is anyone else obsessed with the show 24 besides me? If you are looking for me on Monday nights in the next few months, I can be found in front of my TV watching Jack Bauer save the country again. 24 is the only show that I will not miss for anything. It has gotten to the point that I get so anxious on Monday's that I can't concentrate on anything but how much longer I have until 9 pm.

In Outer Banks news...it is cold and the ocean is still here.

Art Show

2007-01-22T10:20:00.000-05:00

The 29th annual Frank Stick Art show will run from January 21 - February 16 at the Glenn Eure Ghost Fleet Gallery. The show features a wide variety of styles from local artists. Watercolor, acrylic and oil paintings, drawings, printmaking, works in clay, glass, textiles, and other media will all be displayed. All works will be judged with awards in several different categories to be handed out at the end of the show. For more information contact the Dare County Arts Council 252-473-5558.

Correction - The Currituck Club

2007-01-18T08:47:00.000-05:00

The Currituck Club Golf Course has decided to remain open during the renovations and set up temporary greens. This will still be from September 2007-March 2008. The green's fees will be reduced for this time frame.

Traffic Delays

2007-01-16T09:35:00.001-05:00

NC 12 Road Improvement Project

NC DOT announced they are starting the NC 12 Road Improvement Project this week.

The project consists of the following:

A continuous center turn lane from SR 1418 to Skyline Drive.

Pedestrian refuge islands north of Ocean View Loop and Skyline Drive.

Extension of the full width northbound merge lane to the end of the commercial area.

Extension of the northbound left turn lane at Chicahauk Trail.

Drainage improvements.

The contractor is Barnhill Construction and the project completion date is May 18, 2006. Intermittent lane closures should be expected with some congestion and limited traffic delays. There will be no scheduled work on weekends or holidays. Access to all homes and businesses will be maintained at all times.

Traffic Delays

2007-01-16T09:35:00.000-05:00

Fish Story

2007-01-15T09:40:00.000-05:00

One good thing about the winter months is that the fish do not hibernate. I was able to go striper fishing this past week and we really lucked out. We hooked about 20 fish and were able to keep our limit of 10. We went out of Rudee Inlet in Va. Beach and stayed out for a half day. It was cold that morning, but luckily our boat had a heated cabin with leather seats and a flat screen tv. I brought home about 10 pounds of fish to stick in my freezer. I wonder how many nights I can eat it in row without getting tired of it. I have already grilled it and baked it....I guess it is time to fry it now. Have a good day.

The Currituck Club

2007-01-12T10:15:00.000-05:00

I know it is a little early, but I figured I would mention this now and then once the time gets closer. The Currituck Club Golf Course will be closed from Sept. 2007 - March 2008. They are planning to renovate the course during this time frame. The entire course will be closed and questions can be directed to the pro shop (888-453-9400). Please keep this in mind if you plan on coming to the Corolla area during that time frame. Take care.

Safety Tips

2007-01-10T15:34:00.000-05:00

Recently, there have been some unfortunate accidents on the beach road involving a dog and a biker getting hit by cars. It is easy to relax while on the OBX, but you still have to be cautious on the roadways. Most areas have a wide walking path along the beach road that should be used at all times. Often you will see bikers out in the roadway riding with the flow of traffic. This is very dangerous for the bikers as well as the vehicles on the road. The beach road is not a wide road and in order to go around the bikers, cars have to enter the lane of oncoming traffic. Also, pedestrians and bikers need to be cautious at the intersections. Drivers may not always look to the right when turning right so if you are coming from that direction slow down and make sure the driver has seen you before trying to cross in front of the car. There are a large number of crosswalks that should be used when crossing over the road. I can't count the number of times families with small children have bolted across the road randomly to get to the ocean. Dogs should be on a leash at all times when walking along the road as well. There is a lot of activity along the roadways down here and the best thing to do is just slow down and be cautious. Have a great day.

Saltwater Fishing License

2007-01-08T10:22:00.000-05:00

As of January 1st 2007, a recreational saltwater fishing license is required for anyone living more than 3 miles away from the water. The debate on this issue has been going on for about 10 years, so it didn't really catch anyone by surprise that it finally was passed. The license costs $15 for state residents and $30 for non residents. You may also purchase a short term license which lasts for 10 consecutive days ($5 for residents, $10 for non residents). Children under 16 are not required to purchase a license. There is a hefty penalty for getting caught without one too. There is a $35 citation fee plus $110 in court fees. All of the revenue from offenders will go towards the board of education. You can purchase the license at the local Walmart, Kmart and tackle shops. They can also be purchased online at the Division of Marine Fisheries Webpage (http://www.ncfisheries.net/index.html).

Outer Banks Wedding Expo

2007-01-03T10:39:00.000-05:00

The 9th annual Outer Banks Wedding Expo will be held January 5-7. The event is sponsored by the Outer Banks Wedding Association. There will be a welcome reception and a fashion show as well as a dream drive highlighting event locations. There will be a number of vendors from the area showcasing their services and a wedding tour which will include a number of open houses. The event is open to anyone, but you must purchase tickets to participate. There are two different ticket packages which can be purchased. An all inclusive ticket which includes the wedding tour and expo ($15 in advance/$20 at the door) and an expo only ticket ($8 in advance/$10). We look forward to seeing you there.

Outer Banks Time

2006-12-29T09:58:00.000-05:00

Well, I am back after almost a week off and it is going take me a while to get back into "work" mode. I hope everyone had a great holiday. It was nice to spend time with my family and see friends that I had not seen in a while. One thing that I always realize when I leave the Outer Banks is how different it is from almost everywhere else. If you vacation here then you may hear people talk about "Outer Banks Time." This how we refer to the laid back and sometimes slower than normal way of life. Things take longer here than they would in other places. It is always funny (and sometimes annoying) to hear people complain about the pace down here. I was eating at the Black Pelican last night with my family and overheard a lady complaining to the waiter about her food not being in front of her yet. By my calculations she had been waiting for about 10-15 minutes, which seems reasonable to me. However, if her food was not there in 5 minutes she wanted to speak to a manager. I could be wrong, but my guess is that she was not familiar with "OBT" and was from out of town. So I feel that if we spread awareness about "OBT" then we can help all of the visitors understand that when someone says they will be there are 1:00pm, they really mean sometime in the next 3 days. If you are going to enjoy staying here then you have to get used to the slow pace. It is island life and that is the way we like it. Take care and have a great day!

Stars Visit the Outer Banks

2006-12-21T11:04:00.000-05:00

I tested my new camera out last night and tried to take pictures of the stars. It was really clear and there aren't a lot of man made lights that would get in the way of viewing the sky. On a clear night you can see for miles. I can even see the Currituck Lighthouse and it is about 15 miles away. Sometimes you will see lights from fishing boats out on the ocean late at night. I often wonder what the shore looks like from their view. Next time you are down and have a moment to look around, don't forget to look up.

Different View of the Sound

2006-12-20T09:58:00.000-05:00

This is a view of the Outer Banks that many visitors may not get a chance to see. This part of the sound is on the Currituck mainland. One of our employees hunts on a regular basis in this area and always speaks of the great natural beauty she sees. The trees are mostly Cypress and there are a few Pines as well. The exposed roots give it an eerie feel, especially on a foggy morning. You can walk for miles and miles down the shore and never see anyone. This is just another reason why the Outer Banks is so peaceful and such a great place to live.

Toyland

2006-12-18T09:24:00.000-05:00

During the month of November, the employees of Village Realty held an in-house auction for a weekend getaway at a mountain resort in Maryland, held 50-50 raffles, sold desserts and paid to wear jeans on Friday to raise money in order to sponsor Tyrrell County children for Christmas. Toys/clothing for 19 children were delivered to Dare County Social Services on Friday. It took two vans to haul all of the gifts and 1 test drive on the bike. A total of $1000 was raised to purchase the gifts. Happy Holidays!

Warm Winter Days

2006-12-15T09:43:00.000-05:00

One of the strangest things about living on the Outer Banks is the weather we have. You never know what it is going to do from one day to the next even if you trust the Weather Channel. It can be sunny in Nags Head while it is raining in Kitty Hawk. The difference in temperatures on opposite sides of the bridge can be 10 degrees or more as well. The good thing is that every once in a while we will have a warm spell in the middle of winter. This week has been in the mid 60s and that has given some of us a chance to do spring time activities. One of our employees from Corolla spend the day fishing in his kayak near Pea Island. No fish were caught, but the scenery was still worth the trip. Better luck next time!

Beach Food Pantry

2006-12-14T10:05:00.000-05:00

The ticket to getting into our company Christmas party was a non perishable food item. We collected about 8 baskets of food from all our employees. There was everything from cereal to instant potatoes to maple syrup to canned food items. As you can see it was a full truck load. The food was delivered the other day into the welcoming arms of the Beach Food Pantry. It doesn't always take a Village to make a difference. Every little bit helps. Have a great day!!

The Flu

2006-12-13T11:17:00.000-05:00

The timing of flu outbreaks vary each year, but in the U.S. it usually happens during the winter months. Doctors say that the minor epidemics usually take 3 weeks to peak and another 3 weeks to wind down, while individual cases only take a few days to come and go. The flu is the cause of around 36,000 deaths and 200,000 hospitalizations each year. It costs an estimated 10 billion dollars as well. It is said the flu virus never completely goes away, it just keeps getting passed from person to person and finally multiplies ten fold in the winter months. Some reasoning behind higher outbreaks in cold months is that people tend to stay indoors more during this time of the year and are in closer contact with people because of it. The flu strain also lingers longer on surfaces such as doorknobs, car steering wheels, etc...during the cold months. It is recommended to get a flu vaccination each year to prevent yourself from becoming sick. In general, just take good care of yourself and make sure you wash your hands regularly. Have a good day!

Employee of the year

2006-12-12T08:54:00.000-05:00

Every year at our Christmas party, an employee of the year is chosen. Everyone in the company gets to vote, but the final decision is up to the man in charge. This year, Krista from our Corolla office was chosen by her coworkers to be employee of the year. She works very hard and takes a lot of pride in her work. She is always there to lend a hand and support anyone that may need it. She said she was so happy to have won that she went home and called her parents to tell them the good news. We are lucky to have someone who cares so much about what she does.

Did you know...

2006-12-11T09:14:00.000-05:00

Did you know that the United States of America is the only industrialized nation that does not offer sick time to workers. This means that workers will not get paid sick days. There are some companies that offer one or two personal days that can be used when someone is sick, but that is it. Currently, there is no government sponsored sick time, so companies do not have to offer this to their employees. The result of this is that many workers will come to the office sick because they do not want to lose pay and many more will get sick because of this.

With the Democrats now controlling the Congress, there is a great chance that they will push hard to pass a bill which will require any business with 15 employees or more to offer paid sick time as part of their benefit package. This worries some business because this will also increase their costs as well. Until this happens, let's just hope it is a mild flu season.

Christmas Party

2006-12-08T10:01:00.000-05:00

We had our company Christmas party last night at Penguin Isle. We had a great turn out and everyone seemed to have a fun time. We are like a big family when we get together. That is what makes Village Realty a great place to work. We all have fun together whether we are at work or not. I will have pictures to share in the upcoming days. For now you will just have to take my word for it.

The weather took a drastic turn overnight and it is freezing here today. The thermometer on my car said it was 28 degrees on my way to work this morning. There was ice on the roads in certain areas that had forgotten to turn off the sprinklers to water the lawn. I guess when you think of the beach you don't think of ice and snow, but it does happen. It is a neat sight to have snow falling over the ocean and the beaches turn to white sand.

Christmas Parade

2006-12-07T09:17:00.000-05:00

On December 9th, the town of Manteo will be hold the 33rd annual Christmas parade with the one and only Santa. The events start at 10am in front of the historic Dare County Courthouse on Queen Elizabeth Ave. There will be a Christmas reviewing stage followed by the actual parade starting at 11am. The parade route will start at Manteo High School and wind its way past the waterfront and the courthouse and end at the College of the Albermarle. Get there early to get a good spot along the parade route.

UFO answer and more

2006-12-06T09:41:00.000-05:00

Well I must have stumped a lot of people with the picture yesterday because nobody even tried to guess. It turns out that the object that had washed up was a mooring buoy used by the navy. It is possible that it may have drifted from the Andros Island sonar test range, which is in the Bahamas. It is not uncommon to find the red and green buoy markers wash up after a large storm, but this one was definitely a surprise.

In other news, we had frost this morning and I had to get the dust off of my ice scraper and put it to work. I can't remember the last time I had to use that thing. It is starting to feel like December, but that just means that I am losing time to shop for Christmas gifts. It is always a challenge shopping for anything down here. We have Walmart and Kmart, but there are only so many times you can go in those stores and find something new. Many of us make trips up to Virginia to go to Target, Sam's Club, Best Buy and Barnes and Noble. I find that I do a lot more shopping online, but even with that you have to plan differently. You can always bet it is going to take one or two days longer to get shipped to you because of our location. Overnight delivery is not guaranteed either. You will come to find that everything is a little slower on the Outer Banks. That is our way of life and that is how we like it.

UFO

2006-12-05T10:34:00.000-05:00

For the purposes of this blog, UFO stands for Unidentified Floating Object. One of our employees found this object on the beach about two years ago up in the 4 wheel drive area. The text says "Property of US Navy" on it. I am not sure what it is, so I need some help in figuring it out. If you have any ideas or know what this might be then post a comment. You never know what you are going to find washed up on the beaches here. Have a good day!

Festival of Trees

2006-11-30T09:28:00.000-05:00

Hotline will be holding the 18th annual Festival of Trees from November 30 - December 2. The event will be held at the Outer Banks Brewing Station in Kill Devil Hills. There will be food, games, prizes, live music and other activities for all ages. The event schedule is posted above. We hope to see you there!

March of Dimes Chefs Auction

2006-11-29T09:59:00.000-05:00

The March of Dimes will be holding a Signature Chef's Auction on Sunday, December 3rd at the North Carolina Aquarium. The event will start at 6 pm and there are about 20 chefs who will be there providing food samples. Some of the restaurants involved are The Left Bank, Prime Only, 1587, Red Sky Cafe, Sunset Grill, Lone Cedar and The Wheeping Radish. There is a silent auction and a live auction with items donated by local artists and businesses. Tickets are $100 per person and the event is black tie optional. If you are interested in obtaining a ticket, please contact Jenny Myatt or Jeannie Maynard at Village Realty (252-480-2224). We look forward to seeing you there.

Thinking of Summer?

2006-11-28T09:44:00.000-05:00

It is another beautiful day on the Outer Banks. It is going to be in the 60s and it is almost December. This is the time of year when a lot of people start their vacation search for next summer. We are doing something a little different this year by not doing a traditional brochure. We are offering an online, interactive brochure instead. A guest can search for available homes that meet their needs and then create a brochure with the homes they have found. They can then email or print the brochure out and share with family and friends. This makes it nice because you won't waste time searching for the perfect home and find out that it has already been booked. You also don't have to worry about the information being outdated. The problem with a print brochure is that as soon as you get it out, it is outdated. Owners add amenities all the time and with everything being online, the updates show up instantly. Give it a try and our staff is happy to help with any questions you might have. Take care and we hope to see you soon!

Welcome Back

2006-11-27T09:10:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend. Things are starting to get back to normal here on the beach. As you probably know we had quite a bit of beach erosion and flooding in certain areas from what is now being called the "Thanksgiving" storm. The most heavily damaged areas were South Nags Head and the areas just North of Rodanthe. Over fifty homes have been condemned and there were a couple homes that were destroyed. Many beach access were taken and some oceanfront pools have fallen into the ocean as well. The estimated cost of the storm is just under 2 million dollars. Storms like this are just one of the risks that we take by living here.

The holiday frenzy is still picking up steam. A lot of people are buying their trees and getting their decorations out. The holidays are becoming more and more popular for people to vacation here. It is peaceful and relaxing and you can get some good deals in the stores that are getting ready to close for the end of the year. Give it some thought and call our offices if you are thinking of coming down. We have plenty of places to stay. Have a great day!

Tuesdays with Stuart

2006-11-21T09:03:00.000-05:00

If only it was this nice outside. We are experiencing the front end of a nor easter today and it is only going to get worse. The weather channel is predicting high winds, heavy surf and lots of rain. This should make for a nasty drive around the area so use caution when traveling, especially if you are on the Croatan International Speedway (US 158).

On a side note, I thought I would mention a new restaurant that some of us at the office tried the other day........The Lucky 12 Tavern. They are located at milepost 12 on the Beach Road. They have been open since the summer and are in the building which used to be Don Gatos. They have given it a face lift and they offer a variety of items. I got the caesar salad with grilled tuna on top. It was good and not too expensive. They have daily specials and claim to have the best wings on the beach (every restaurant claims that).

Have a good day and stay warm if you can.

Back to work

2006-11-20T09:37:00.000-05:00

First I would just like to say that I am very happy that Virginia Tech won this past Saturday. The weekends are much different for me now that I am a homeowner. I actually look forward to doing work around the house. I mowed my grass for the second time on Saturday. Well it wasn't actually grass, it was more like a blanket of pine needles that were blown down by all the wind we had last week. I also gave a valiant effort in making homemade spagetti sauce. Personally I thought it turned out pretty good.

It is starting to feel like fall more and more each day. The days are much cooler now and I have started using the fireplace to keep warm at nights. Thanksgiving is in just a few days and hopefully everyone is looking forward to getting together with family and friends and eating a lot of food. My lovely girlfriend and I will be heading up to Richmond, VA to spend the day with my brother and my mom. What are some of you all doing? Have a good Monday and take care. As a reminder.....Village Realty will be closed on Thursday for the holiday.

Bad Bean

2006-11-17T09:57:00.000-05:00

I am working from Corolla today and one of the things I always look forward to when I am up here is a burrito from Bad Bean. There is really only one word to describe a burrito from there.....HUGE! I usually get a shredded chicken burrito with black beans, cheese, lettuce, Mexican rice, and some of their homemade salsa. They make all of their salsa in house with fresh ingredients. The burrito weighs about 1 pound and it is as thick as my calf muscle. They also have great fish tacos and other Mexican style dishes. They are located in the TimBuck II shopping center. Stop in next time you are up there and tell them that Village Realty sent you. Have a great Friday and a great weekend!

Cookout

2006-11-16T09:57:00.000-05:00

We have quite a few November birthdays, so to celebrate we had a big cookout. There were hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken. It was all quite tasty and everyone had a good time. Luckily the weather stays nice enough to grill outside, even in November.

Cookies

2006-11-14T09:14:00.000-05:00

We are having a good old fashioned bake sale this week. However, I think that all the treats will be gone by the end of the day. Several employees donated their culinary skills to provide brownies, cookies, muffins and other baked items for the sale. This is just one of the many things we are doing to raise money for underprivileged children over the holidays. We also have jean day on Fridays, where it costs a dollar to wear jeans and a 50/50 raffle every other week. The goal is to raise $500 and I believe we can do it. Just remember that every little bit helps and what may seem like a small amount to you, may be a lot to someone else. Have a great day!

Despite weather, Marathon a huge success!

2006-11-13T09:56:00.000-05:00

With over 4000 runners participating, the 1st annual OBX Marathon was a huge success. The race was held on Sunday and unfortunately the weather turned gloomy right at the start. There was wind and rain, but that did not turn anyone away. There was a marathon and a half marathon and we had an employee participate in each. Ron Mason ran in the marathon and finished 940th overall with a time of just over 4 hours. Sarah Spencer ran in the half marathon and finished 1543rd overall with a time under 3 hours. Both are to be congratulated for battling the terrible weather and completing the race. We are all very proud!

The weather is here, but you aren't

2006-11-10T09:14:00.000-05:00

Our fearless and talented leader, Bob Oakes (far right), has left us for a couple weeks to sail from Hampton, VA to the Caribbean. The name of the boat is the "Arctic Tern" and there are 3 others on board for the journey. Bob has been on many sailing adventures and has always wanted to do a longer passage. The trip is a total of 1500 miles and will take somewhere between 10-15 days to complete, depending on the weather. It is a very exciting journey and we wish him the best.

In other news, it is currently Friday and if this week is anything like last one then tomorrow is Saturday. This is always an exciting day for me since I get two days off. I don't really have plans for this weekend so I am looking forward to relaxing some. Take care and be safe. See you on Monday.

Don't Give up Hope

2006-11-09T09:12:00.000-05:00

It seems that voters wanted to send a strong message in recent elections held in Pierre, South Dakota. The County Commissioner position was up for grabs and the incumbent, Merlin Feistner was running against Marie Steichen. The town is rather small and with a total vote count of less than 200 votes it was bound to be close. In the end Marie Steichen defeated Feistner 100 votes to 64 votes. The only catch is that Marie Steichen died two months prior to the elections. So to put it lightly....Feistner was beat by a dead woman. The County Board will now meet to find a replacement for the position.

High Cotton BBQ

2006-11-08T09:24:00.000-05:00

Ever since I moved to North Carolina, I can't stop eating BBQ. It is the strangest thing, because I could literally eat BBQ every day and not get sick of it. There are quite a few different styles of BBQ and everyone likes their's a different way. I have tried many of the restaurants down here, claiming to have the best BBQ in NC, but I keep going back to High Cotton. They have a simple menu with BBQ, ribs and chicken items. I always get the pork sandwhich plate, which comes with two sides and a slice of cornbread. The sweet tea is the best I have had as well. The prices are very reasonable......two people can eat dinner for about $14. I would highly recommend High Cotton to anyone.

Go Vote

2006-11-07T09:38:00.000-05:00

Today is the day to VOTE!! Make sure to stop by your local voting booth to cast your votes today. The best part about this is that all the annoying campaign commercials will be over. If you don't vote then you can't complain when things don't go the way you want them to. Have a good day!

Good to be home

2006-11-06T09:36:00.000-05:00

I finally made it back from Miami last night around 1 am. We had a great time, especially since the Hokies defeated the Hurricanes at the Orange Bowl. The weather was a nice 85 degrees, however it was quite windy the whole time. Being away from the Outer Banks always makes me appreciate the area even more. When you live here full time, you see the area differently than if you vacation here. Sometimes you lose sight of how beautiful the area is and how much it has to offer. Needless to say, it is good to be back. What is it about the Outer Banks that you love so much?? (yes...this is an attempt to get some comments).

On a side note.......The time has come for America to cast their votes. Make sure you take the time to stop by your voting center and help make a difference. Voting is tomorrow Nov. 7.

Don't Miss Me

2006-11-02T09:44:00.000-05:00

There will be a short break in the blog updates until Monday. I am heading out of town this evening. I will be going to Miami to watch Virginia Tech beat(hopefully) the Hurricanes. The weather is supposed to get a little cooler here, so I am glad I am heading towards the sun. If you are here for the weekend be sure to check out First Fridays in Manteo, which is being held tomorrow on the Manteo waterfront. You can also practice your stride for the marathon which is coming up. Check out www.outerbanks.org for a full list of events planned for this month. I hope you all have a great weekend.

Wings over Water

2006-11-01T09:03:00.000-05:00

The 2006 Wings over Water Festival will be held November 7-12. Each day there will be a lot of events that will put guests in close contact with nature. Some examples of the events being held are: photography workshops, kayak tours, hikes and birding events. The events are open to all ages, but there are limits to how many can attend each one. For more information and a schedule of events check out the Wings over Water website.

Happy Halloween

2006-10-31T08:46:00.000-05:00

Today is the day that you can eat nothing but candy and not feel guilty about it. I miss the days of being able to dress up as a ninja and fill up my bag with candy. When I got home I dumped my whole bag of candy on the floor (everyone does it) and figured out the order in which I wanted to eat it. My mom still has a picture of me when I was a little one, dressed up as a pumpkin. She had sewn a giant pumpkin costume out of felt and made me stand there and get my picture taken. I could have cared less what I was, because I only was after one thing.....smarties. Today, Halloween is not just for the children. Many "adults" have costume parties that celebrate the spirit of the day. The only problem is that sometimes you don't know who is behind the mask. No one wants to end up in a "Saved by the Bell" moment like Slater and Screech did (if anyone knows what I am talking about I will give you a virtual high five). Have a safe and happy day and make sure you brush your teeth one extra time, just in case. Send us some pictures of you or your children on Halloween, if you have some interesting costumes as well.

Get your running shoes ready...

2006-10-30T09:13:00.000-05:00

The Outer Banks Marathon is coming November 12. This is the inaugural running of the event and will consists of 4000 runners. The race will start at 7 am and the course will close at 3 pm. The marathon will start in Kitty Hawk and wind its way past the Albermarle Sound, Jockey's Ridge and the Wright Brother's Memorial. The finish will be on Roanoke Island. The total prize purse is $25,000 for the full and half marathons. For more information on the event, please visit the official marathon website.

Jeans Day

2006-10-27T09:23:00.000-04:00

Every Friday for the next month is jeans day here at Village Realty. It will cost everyone a dollar to wear jeans and the proceeds will go towards helping underprivileged children at Christmas. This has been very successful in the past and we hope to raise a lot of money this year as well. Have a good Friday!

Customer Service Awards

2006-10-26T09:53:00.000-04:00

During customer service week, one employee from each office was chosen and given a Customer Satisfaction award. It just so happens that the two employees were sisters. Sam from our Nags Head office and Kara from our Corolla office were both recognized by their managers and fellow coworkers for their dedication to serving our guests.

Fall Sunrise

2006-10-25T08:55:00.000-04:00

One of our guests sent us this sunrise picture from their most recent stay. They are long time Village People however this time they wanted to stay in Duck/Southern Shores area. Unfortunately we do not have any homes there, so they ventured out into the great unknown of the "others." While the scenery and natural beauty may have looked the same, the welcome feeling they usually get from our staff, was not offered at the "other" company. We appreciate our guests and try to make them feel as if they are part of our family. Enjoy the cooler weather and come on down to see us.