Blog Entries

A Contractor�s Perspective of Investments

Chester@vipfripp.com — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:00:00 +0100

A recent article in the local paper read, "Investors put money into homes rather than stocks", recycling the old adage that owning real estate is the only way not to go wrong - emphasis on the word ‘real'. When so many people have lost large percentages of their paper wealth in the recent stock market declines, the benefits of a tangible asset versus a stock portfolio snapshot is brought painfully home.

Not that real estate investment has been painless in the real ec [...]

Members Update

Chester@vipfripp.com — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:16:55 +0100

Since I last wrote, 5 different owners have stayed at 'Coeur de Terre', and I am happy to report that everyone has been pleased with the home. We have had suggestions for additions ranging from "nice to have" (blowdryers) to "necessary" (icemaker and card table). To date we have added 4 chaises for the back deck, chests of drawers in the upstairs bedrooms, a "step stool" for the king bed - custom made out of Ipe, games, nightlight [...]

Welcome home members of VIP Fripp!

Chester@vipfripp.com — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 08:55:34 +0100

Now that construction is complete, I will be assuming management of Coeur de Terre. Our vision throughout this project has been to create a warm, luxurious home where families can enjoy being together year after year. A multi-generational environment where memories are made - where parents and children can reconnect, grandparents can bond with their grandchildren, cousins can form lasting relationships- all while enjoying the beauty of the Lowcountry and Fripp Island [...]

Week 37, The End

Chester@vipfripp.com — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 23:01:59 +0100

10/7 - 10/16

I began this report with "1/29 - 2/2 The project is finally under way." Seems like more than nine months have passed! We have the C/O and there remains only punch work. This is the final �Developer Article' for Coeur de Terre. - The project is finally finished!

There are a few items left - nine lengths of the cable

{read more}railing on the right side had to be reordered (the lengths were too short), two of the three shower heads [...]

Weeks 35 and 36

Chester@vipfripp.com — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 17:59:06 +0100

9/25 - 10/5

C/O inspection was today (Friday, 10/5) and we have only a few minor items to correct (stair risers must be closed, hurricane panels and cable rail complete - we were installing them during the inspection - some cover plates to install, etc.). We are still finishing landscaping and will begin furnishing the house this weekend, starting with the kitchen. Furniture beginsarriving tomorrow and the bulkier pieces will be moved on Tuesday. Much of it is sitting in an [...]

Mural

Chester@vipfripp.com — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 15:03:35 +0100

This is the Mural in the foyer. I caught the artist, Julia Anderson, as she was signing it Friday morning.

How to add photos to the Photo Gallery

itsupport@visiontm.com — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 07:23:16 +0100

Click on member area and login on the left. If you do not do anything after a period of time, you may get logged out and may need to log back in again to continue. Click on Photo Gallery A green U to the right of each gallery means you can upload A blue O to the right of each gallery means you own itClick on My GalleriesA list of images will be displayed as well as a tab for My Galleries Scroll to the bottom and you will see where you can add an image Select the gallery where you [...]

How to add photos to Guestbooks

itsupport@visiontm.com — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 07:08:42 +0100

Login to system by clicking on the members tabClick on the "Add To Guestbook " link in the left column, a new window will openIf you have not already done so, add a description to your Guestbook that others will see as a general descriptionClick on the Write tab at the topEnter a TitleEnter the text of your article or at leastthe part leading up to where you want your picture to be placedClick on the Plus sign to the right of imagesClick on the small "Upload" link i [...]

Weeks 32, 33, 34

Chester@vipfripp.com — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 08:06:07 +0100

I apologize for the long delay in writing this report. The new website is easier to use but I fear I am a slow learner. We have been very busy getting all the odds and ends completed. The power meter was finally set after much delay by SCE&G, which finally allowed us to remove the temporary power pole, install the sprinkler system and lay the sod.

I decided to use brick pavers on the entire driveway and walkway - eliminating the gravel sections originally planned. It is a much nicer [...]

Weeks 29, 30, 31

Chester@vipfripp.com — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:09:37 +0100

8/13 - 8/24 Two week have gone by in a flash. Hand rails are complete. Light fixtures are up. Plumbing fixtures are almost all installed, and the kitchen cabinets and appliances are installed - and they look very good. The granite and teak tops have been fabricated and are ready to be installed. Also, the interior hand railing is complete. Plumbing fixtures and electrical fixtures arealmost completed. Painting has been the most challenging of the subs, dabbling here and there and generally g [...]

Week 28

Chester@vipfripp.com — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 06:35:00 +0100

8/6 - 8/10

The heat has really been a challenge this week. We had a heat index of 117 degrees on Thursday, and it has been at 115 or above all week. The camera has been intermittent, which we attribute to overheating. Relief should arrive by this coming weekend, but we worry about the hurricane season with all this warm water (it is like bathing - I think the hot tub may be filled with iceand sodas for the post construction celebrations of the house).

The tile work is complete i [...]

Weeks 26 and 27

Chester@vipfripp.com — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 02:32:00 +0100

7/23 - 8/3

Missed the report last week - I was out of town and had no access to a computer, unfortunately. I returned Thursday and resumed my usual tirades with the painters, trim guys, etc.

The drywall touch-up and interior painting is complete. There have been the inevitable conflicts between the painters (spraying) and tile setters, carpenters, cabinetry installers working nearby. The painters generally win out, lest everyone's tools and clothing get a good coat of primer [...]

Twenty-Five

Chester@vipfripp.com — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 11:58:00 +0100

7/16 - 7/20

The floors are sanded and have the initial coats of sealer applied. We will complete almost everything else then buff and apply the final two coats. I wound up changing the exterior hand rails to the body color (they had been the trim color), yielding to the many voices raised in protest to all that bright color on the front of the house.

Tile and marble are still beingset in the bathrooms, as everyone has been trying to keep out of the floor finisher's way. Plum [...]

Twenty-Four

Chester@vipfripp.com — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 08:24:00 +0100

7/9 - 7/13

The Water Festival is upon us in Beaufort as we are pressing towards the finish-out.

The white oak flooring is being installed on the first floor and the finishers are sanding and sealing flooring on the second floor balcony. Some tile setters have been placing Travertine Marble in the second floor shower walls while others are setting the shower pans on the first floor.

Painters are completing the final coats on the exterior. I met with an artist who I may con [...]

Twenty-Three

Chester@vipfripp.com — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 10:15:00 +0100

7/2 - 7/6

The interior trim crew ran most of the crown, base, window molding and closet shelving. The mirrored closet doors did not arrive until the end of the week so the interior trim is going to run into next week finishing up. Hardwood flooring installation began on the second floor balcony. The electrician placed the circuit breakers and is starting to set out the electrical outletsso that we can get the permanent service inspection necessary for electrical power connection, which [...]

Week Twenty-Two

Chester@vipfripp.com — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:13:00 +0100

6/25 - 6/29

The interior trim crew began Monday and hung interior doors. It is nice to see the finishing begin in earnest. They ran door and window trim, crown molding, and base molding. The interior trim should be complete next week.

Painters also began on Monday, caulking, sanding and filling on the exterior trim and siding. They primed most everything by Friday and began applyingthe trim color. I am changing the wall color to a more grey tone - the original appears a lot more [...]

Twenty-First Week

Chester@vipfripp.com — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 11:45:00 +0100

6/18 - 6-22

The Bridge is Back! Repairs are complete and the McTeer Bridge reopened to traffic Wednesday. I think everyone In Beaufort is relieved that the work was completed in time for Water Festival.

As fate would have it, the Harbor Island Bridge became stuck in the open position early Friday morning and cost us another day ... we did make it up on Saturday, however.

Theweeks work went well. The drywall finishing is just about completed. The hardwood flooring was deli [...]

Week Twenty

Chester@vipfripp.com — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 03:50:00 +0100

6/11 - 6/15

The sheetrock hangers began Monday and finishers were right on their heels. The place looks totally different now - finally taking on the finished contours. The foyer stairs arrived on Wednesday - about three weeks later than originally contracted for, and they are very impressive. It is nice to be able to go up stairs without using a ladder. Soon enough it will be an even easierelevator ride.

The primary task now is to get the drywall finishing out of the way and to [...]

Week Nineteen

Chester@vipfripp.com — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 06:32:00 +0100

6/4 - 6/8

Insulation was installed Monday. The insulation inspection passed and we have stocked sheetrock. Drywall installers will begin hanging sheetrock on Monday. Those long delayed windows on the back of the house arrived Friday and were installed Saturday. Everything is pushing towards finishing now ... tile selections, flooring, interior trim materials, kitchen cabinetry, selectinglighting fixtures, etc. A million and one details. The place will be hopping for the next six to eig [...]

Weeks 17 and 18

Chester@vipfripp.com — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 02:30:00 +0100

5/21 - 6/1

Things have been very hectic for the past two weeks. My three year old niece was bitten on the ankle by a copperhead snake in her back yard - the hot dry weather has brought them out looking for water. We are caring for my sister's other children (7-months, 6 years, and 15 years) while she is recovering. I have recently learned a lot about snakes, their venom and treatment. Ellie is recovering well and should be released from the hospital on Friday.

I missed a wee [...]