Our Dream Home - A Happy Accident

"We purchased a 1940s beach home because of the location - it was second row from the ocean, in our favorite place, and everything we dreamed of! As we started our journey, we planned on only making a few updates by lifting the foundation, removing old pilings, and taking out everything that was in bad shape. While doing this, we began recognizing what this home meant to us, our future, and the financial investment it could become; this could be the start of our forever home. We then decided to remove the front porch, extend the primary bedroom to include a walk-in closet with a luxury bathroom, update the small kitchen and dining area to become one large area for entertaining, removed the hip roof, and added a gable with additional square footage throughout the entire house. As these decisions continued to compound, we realized this was something more than a few updates; we were in the process of a major renovation and building our dream home in our dream location.

Now, we have a larger than normal lot for a beach house which has a bricked in back yard area with gorgeous grass, swings, and lights hanging from our beautiful, large live oak tree. Our under-house patio faces the secluded yard and is our favorite spot to hangout. What started as a major and scary renovation turned into a happy accident. The stress turned into extensive hands on knowledge, as we contracted the home ourselves and created every design aspect. We did hire a structural engineer to ensure a strong coastal structure and he gave us a wonderful education in well-built homes. After learning from the engineer, Collins did majority of the work himself including deconstructing, framing, trusses, HVAC, windows, doors, light fixtures, painting, yard work, and the list goes on. We subcontracted some jobs in their entirety for time saving purposes, but even during those jobs Collins worked side by side with the contractors.

During the construction process, we met wonderful, highly skilled people and learned to do things we never thought about doing before. There are many things you don’t think of as being factors in home building. Cristy drew the home plans on graph paper that was purchased from Hobby Lobby and would Google measurements for tubs, doorways, windows, and more. Collins would then take the design and build. Cristy designed and chose every cabinet, room setup, wall colors, light fixtures, knobs, door hinges, furniture, and every little detail that goes into a home. She would dream it and Collins would bring it to reality. We experienced lessons with marriage, finances, outside influences, and boundaries. We learned about home values, planning for remodels, how and when to order products, and how to indirectly assist clients in their home buying decisions, as Collins has an eye and knowledge unmatched regarding property needs. He can look at an HVAC and give a good indication on its lifespan or look at the plumbing under your sink. The Weber Group always encourages an inspection but Collins will give the go ahead or head nod and look out for you. 

The Weber Group offers an extensive list of skills and services. We have experience in personal and commercial real estate, long term property management, winter rental property management, listing homes, finding property, and emergency property management services for clients who live out of state and need to have someone on call for emergencies. If you are looking to build or uplift your home, The Weber Group's personal referral relationships of trustworthy and knowledgeable people is extensive; including lenders, inspectors, pest services, attorneys, and handymen. Aside from recommending handymen, The Weber Group can also be hired for services. We have personally remodeled kitchens, deconstructed properties, painted rooms, and removed and installed tile flooring, toilets, and fixtures, plus more. We can assist with hauling off or selling furniture from a fully furnished home, if the buyer is not in need of the belongings. You name it, we can do it and love every moment.

Collins is currently in the process of obtaining his residential builders license which will allow him to be avenue for clients who need assistance with construction prior to listing or post building, to bring the home up to standards. The residential builders license, alongside Collins' current knowledge of framing, plumbing, electric, engineering, lawn care, HVAC, roofing, foundation work, pilings, and operating heavy equipment, gives our clients a full service, hands on experience.  

Cristy has been an insurance agent for the past 13 years, currently in South Carolina with past experience in North Carolina. Having an insurance agent by your side throughout the buying or selling process gives clients extra knowledge on what additional expenses a property may cost from an insurance standpoint including flood insurance, location of the home, home improvements, construction, and more. Cristy also has an eye for design and can choose paint colors, assist with picture and furniture placement, and designing your home after purchase. 

Our home renovation process started hopeful and then turned stressful over 17 months but turned out to be our biggest blessing ever. The learning experience has been unmatched and added to our extensive list of services we can offer to our clients!"