Surf or Sound Realty - Horrible Experience

Be careful who you rent your vacation home from. We went for 2 weeks in July to Avon and rented through Surf or Sound Realty. Our home ';On Island Time #515'; was filthy. There were numerous safety issues, like live wires near the hot tub and smoke alarms off the walls. The couch in our main living room was torn and stained beyond belief. Even when they had the professional come in to clean it, he couldn%26#39;t remove all the stains. The couch should have been thrown away. It was disgusting. Bugs smeared all over the walls, screens missing and torn from the windows. Lack of furniture around pool and throughout home. Broken Chairs, Kitchen was not stocked properly with utensils and kitchen tools. After contacting Surf or Sound to remedy some of these situations, they stuck us with their Office Manager that was not customer friendly. She was very mean, yelling at my children and myself when her company dropped the ball on this house. The house should not have been rented. Very difficult office staff to deal with. I was told never to rent through them again. This is Discrimination. My family didn%26#39;t do all this to the home. We spent a lot of money on our ';Dream 2 week vacation'; and were highly disappointed. Whatever you do, don%26#39;t rent with Surf or Sound Realty. Unless, you want to be disappointed with your vacation home and the staff. Use the other well respected realtors in the area. They are much more customer oriented and try to make things right. Surf or Sound was horrible.

Surf or Sound Realty - Horrible Experience

(tried to send this earlier but didn%26#39;t go thru so sorry if it appears twice!)

I%26#39;m sorry you had such a bad vacation - too bad you didn%26#39;t enter Surf or Sound Realty in this forum before you booked with them. You would have seen dozens and dozens of complaints similar to yours. We have always had great luck with Hatteras Realty and Outer Beaches Realty.

If you are new to this forum check out the comments on the realty companies before making a reservation!

Surf or Sound Realty - Horrible Experience

Sorry you had such a horrible time due to your realty company. Please don%26#39;t think this is true of all rental companies on OBX. My family has rented houses through Stan White, Joe Lamb, and Carolina Designs, with little to no problems.

We also had a bad Surf or Sound experience. The refrigerator in the house we were renting wasn%26#39;t working when we arrived, and most of the week went by before it was fixed. No apology from Surf or Sound (and no discount because apparently a fridge isn%26#39;t ';essential';). This was in a rather expensive, 6 bedroom house with a private pool. That was several years ago. Since then we have been renting from Outer Beaches and have had a much better experience.

Drat! Not what I want to hear. We%26#39;re going with Surf or Sound for the first time this year. Usually we go with Hatteras Realty but we needed a larger house.

If I were you, depending on how much money you have put down already, I would try to get out of it. You need to read all of the posts on this website under Surf or Sound. I can%26#39;t believe they are still in business with the way they treat their customers! If you can%26#39;t get out of it, be sure to take pictures of anything that is wrong with the home as soon as you walk in. Be sure to let them know of anything that is wrong, even though they won%26#39;t do anything about it. What house did you end of renting? I think if you get a brand new home, you should be ok.

We%26#39;re getting #333 Bramasole. I%26#39;m not sure how old it is. We%26#39;ve already paid 50% and I don%26#39;t know that we could get another rental at this point...

Sorry you had such a bad experience. We have not rented from SurforSound, but were considering it for a trip this May. When I called to inquire about heated pools, etc, the reservationist was rude, and not interested in helping us find the best accomodations for our needs. I hung up the phone, and will never consider them now or in the future.

Hello. I saw your posts here about the ';on island time'; house and Surf or Sound realty. That really sounds horrible. If anyone is interested, I have a very nice family oriented home for weekly rental. It has no pool and is a bit smaller, but I keep it very clean and make sure the tenants are satisfied. The house is in Avon. Below is the link. Take a look and let me know what you think.

Thanks,

John

http://www.vrbo.com/129687

Surf or Sound when they first stated got all the new expensive places. I checked the pricing this year and noticed that their rates were cheaper than Midgett, Hatteras or Outer Beaches. I never did use Surf or Sound but almost did this year. I have uased the other three extensively and if I lived closer I probably would have bought a place years ago, But living 6 to 7 hours away is too far to check on a property.

Not much difference between the other three rental companies...I have had many more good experiences with them than bad ones. I do not like how Outer Beaches website is now.

A friend of mine rented from a friend of his who owns a place Hatteras or Buxton..I cannot remember. This guy told my friend that when they purchased they were looking at a lot of houses with different realty companies. One house they looked at...generation 1980s, Oceanfront...they were told not to buy because it was haunted. Anyone heard of a haunted house on Hatteras....I just thought about it because it probably is a Surf or Sound rental! Seriously about the story.

It is amazing that any business would allow their customers to be treated like that. Evidently they feel that there are so many people they will never run out of potential customers. It is evident that they have not heard of Internet Reviews, and they don%26#39;t realize that by mistreating one person can cost them many $$$$.

I did notice that another Poster added a link to their cottage, that could be the way to go. Rent from someone who values each customer. We also have a rental and since it is only 2 bedrooms will not take away from the first poster. Any one who just need tow bedrooms in a neat, clean, and very reasonable cottage give us a call. www.sandsoftimecampground.com Click on the link COTTAGE.

Thoughts om Memorial Day 09

Surf City Police need to get their act together and come up withg a traffic plan for Surf City.They need to have Officers directing traffic at the stoplight and near by intersections on weekends and Holidays.I have never seen so many Idiots without a clue as to what they are doing or where they are going.

Thoughts om Memorial Day 09

My thoughts on Mermorial Day are not about traffic, picnics, Nascar races, but for more important things, people... The brave men and women and their families, past and present, who have fought for our freedom.

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but this is what we have to remember, people have fought and died to give us our rights , yes to even our right to b**ch about traffic.

So fly your flags high, attend a Mermorial Day parade, visit a local Vet. center, buy a poppy from the vets. Show your pride in our country in your own way, but please remember the reason for this special day. Especially with Camp Lejeune being a close neighbor, a lot of military families enjoy the island also!

Happy Holidays.

Thoughts om Memorial Day 09

I%26#39;m Sorry, But I did attend The Memorial Day Service at the Veterans Cemetery Today on the FIFTH ANNIVERSITY of MY FATHER%26#39;S Death Today and felt a little Aggravated when I got back to this Place.

And He was a Veteran and the MAYOR of this Town for two terms.ButHow was Your Day ?

Eh, you have to expect crazy, backed up traffic on busy holiday weekends in popular vacation areas. It%26#39;s nothing new and it%26#39;s not unique to Surf City.

All the crowds were good to see. It was good for business and good for the local economy.

A good tip for locals and visitors alike is to avoid accessing the island via the Surf City swing bridge on summer Saturdays or holidays between about 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. if traffic bothers you.

The highrise bridge into North Topsail Beach might add 20 minutes or so to your time but if you%26#39;d rather add that time than sit in traffic, it would be worth it. Traffic flows steadily over that bridge with no stopping or slow downs.

Once you get to Surf City via NTB, if you are going south of the traffic light, get off Hwy 210 and go one road closer to the ocean (North Topsail Drive) to end up at the traffic signal and not stuck in traffic as you get closer to Roland Avenue.

scars

ie hosted control

1st visit to outer banks, driving from Charleston to Maine,

this will be our 1st visit to the Outer Banks. After leaving a child in Charleton for college we are heading back to Maine. We are planning on taking 3-4 days back. We love the beach and would like to relax for a couple of days. Would Corolla be a good place to relax for a couple of days? Is it a reasonable spot to stop enroute from Charleston? We are considering the Hampton Inn in Corolla, we want to stay on the beach and it will probably be the weekend of aug. 21st. Any suggestions for a great place to hang out at the beach for two days. Thanks in advance.

1st visit to outer banks, driving from Charleston to Maine,

Very nice hotel. Great location. Sounds like the perfect spot for 2 days of R%26amp;R. Have fun!

Franklin, NC - Gem Mining

We%26#39;re going to Franklin soon. We want to visit gem mines but not sure which ones since there are so many! No kids-- Just me and my husband! Which mines are the best for gem mining? Which places offer the best advice, tell you what to look for, etc.,? I%26#39;m a teacher and would like to take back ';something'; to show my students.

THANKS FOR ANY ADVICE!

Franklin, NC - Gem Mining

As to which is %26#39;best';, well that is one%26#39;s own interpitation. But there are several in the area. Do a search for ';gem mine franklin nc'; and click on the first one, which is the franklin CoC. On there you will see ';gem mines'; click there and then on MAP. You will see all in the area. If you notice the ';Rose creeck mine and Mason mine'; these are two that you will GET some gems in your buckets. Try one or both or even several. There are ';rock shops'; that will even evaluate and cut your stones that you find and will send them back to you after cutting. I have done this and was satisfied with the results. I have no preferance as to which is ';best'; but I would say try the rose creek first and then maybe mason mine. The one on cowee valley rd has ';natural (ruby) stones'; but a lot LESS of the other gems. Most all of the mines will have bags or buckets with ';enhanced'; gems from all over. If you buy buckets with only natural stones then you will find FAR less in then compared to enhanced buckets.

There are other places in NC that have gems like CANTON having natural rubys, Spruce pines which have emerals and other gems. Also Hiddenite which has quite a few differant gems, but you have to dig there for your riches.

I hope this helps and where ever you go, happy hunting. jim

ps Take along some OLD clothes that you don%26#39;t mind getting real dirty.

Franklin, NC - Gem Mining

My family and I mined the Cowee Mountain Ruby Mine several times while I was in college and enjoyed that experience. We also liked the gold and gem mine in Cherokee. At the Cowee Mountain Ruby Mine, you can actually buy bags of dirt to take back with you to show your students how to mine. You have to understand that most (if not all) of the mining companies ';enrich'; their bags. You%26#39;re not really getting the true mining experience because of this. I guess they want to guarantee success for each of their customers. If you go to Hiddenite near Statesville, you can get make the choice to get the ';real'; experience. It may be the same way at the emerald mines near Spruce Pine. Just remember that it%26#39;s all about the fun of the experience. I don%26#39;t believe you%26#39;ll be disappointed.

Have a great time!

If you%26#39;re looking for a non-commercial adventure in mining, try driving out Hwy 64 towards Murphy from Franklin to the Nantahala Forest. Turn left onto Deep Gap Rd (brown forestry sign) and drive down to the first campsite on the right. Armed with nothing more than a kitchen strainer %26amp; garden trowel, you can sift the garnets out of the sand in the creek %26amp; tell them all how you did it for free.

deltasunshine: Where exactly is Deep Gap Road? Is it in Hayesville or Murphy? I have a couple places in Murphy and am headed up there at the end of the week and want to check out the creek area you described, but can%26#39;t picture where Deep Gap is? Can you give me a landmark besides the forestry sign? Hopefully you will read this and let me know before I leave. micb63: We have gone gem mining at the Sapphire mine in Franklin (gave advice, showed us what to look for, etc.), they had regular buckets and fortified buckets. It is a blast, I also brought rubber gloves, flip flops, brought towels, bottled water to rinse off feet and wet ones to clean off before getting back in the car, it is very dirty, and fun for all ages, have a great time wherever you go!

We had our best experience at Gold City, a few miles above Franklin. I found a beautiful, native emerald and had it cut into a 2 carat gem. One of my kids found a native sapphire that was cut into 5 carats. We also found native rubies. They were slightly expensive ($25 a bucket and up) but as for the experience it was the most fun for our kids. Everyone found something of value and we learned how to identify rough gems. It wasn%26#39;t crowded, weather was nice and cool, trough was covered and plenty of room to spread out, people working there were extremely helpful and nice. I want to visit other mines when I return but I will definitely go back to Gold City. We visited one featured on the Travel Channel and were less than impressed and wouldn%26#39;t go back there ever again. I found the Franklin Chamber of Commerce website to have wonderful information on the mines. There is printable map on the website that shows the location of the mines.

It%26#39;s a late response but better late than never. My girlfriend and I go to the Franklin area at least 3 times a year to gem mine. We like Cherokee Ruby Mine because they don%26#39;t ';salt'; (enrich) their buckets. The staff is SO helpful and never seem to tire of your questions....no matter how many you ask. If you are members of M.A.G.M.A. (Mountain Area Gem %26amp; Mineral Association) you get discounts on the entry fee and bucket cost. Visit them. You won%26#39;t be disappointed. FYI: Bring a picnic basket and lots of water. There are no vending machines.

I went last year to Rose%26#39;s and had a ball! I found some nice stones and it wasn%26#39;t too expensive. I think you%26#39;d probably be fine anywhere.

Another mine that does not ';enrich'; is Mason%26#39;s Ruby %26amp; Saphire Mine www.masonsrubyandsapphiremine.com/index.htm they have shaded flumes and concessions but charge $30 for as long as you want to stay.

Cherokee is the only other that does not enrich. Not shaded and no snacks, but there is a $7 entry fee and $2.50 per bucket.

Sorry, that%26#39;s Cherokee Ruby Mine @

http://www.cherokeerubymine.com/index.php

Cherokee Ruby Mine and Mason Ruby %26amp; Sapphire Mine (Not Mason Mountain), are definately the way to go for the ';real'; mining experience. Ray, Tony, and Maria over at Cherokee are terrific very helpful people. They really give you an education on how to sluice and what to look for. As other posters have said, you should bring your own lunch, snacks and drinks, also rubber gloves are helpful and bring either ziploc bags or a cup for your finds. Maria provided us with empty pill bottles which was great. Only negative thing I have to say is the benches are too close to the flume and it is back breaking after a few hours. Mason Mine had a shaded waist high flume area, and you can actually go to the mine cave to dig. Expect to get wet and dirty at either location(wear boots!) but it%26#39;s a blast!

Clam Bakes on the beach?

Our family will be visiting the Outer Banks this year for the first time. We are having a family reunion celebrating my parents 50th wedding anniversary. We will be renting a house in the Village of Corolla.

Does anyone know if we can hire someone to cook us a clambake on the beach? Is this even allowed and if so, any suggestions as to whom we should use?

Thanks so much!

Clam Bakes on the beach?

Check out obxconnection.com. The people on there know everything there is to know and should be able to answer your questions. TA (this forum) is great. However obxconnection is all about the Outer Banks and they are quite specific in their answers there. Many homeowners, return vacationers, and natives will help you.

Clam Bakes on the beach?

There are places that will provide you with a custom made clam bake (see Steamers Shellfish to Go) right in Corolla (Tim Buck II) - awesome stuff, very fresh. As for setting up a party on the beach itself, that%26#39;s something I haven%26#39;t heard of or seen in 20 years of visiting there. There are no bonfires allowed in Corolla, which would be a nice beach party element - sorry. I guess you could set up your bech chairs in a circle and bring coolers with your drinks and extras and then just haul the clam bake down to the beach with you. Personally, with the volume of people who are on the beach in the evening along with their pets (dogs), it%26#39;s nice, but not necessarily romantic in a private party sense. If you are in a large beach house, that might be nicer. If it has a pool, you could always set up the party around the pool. Just suggestion.

Here%26#39;s the link to steamers - http://www.steamersshellfishtogo.com/

Thank you for this great information. We do have a large house with a pool, that sounds like a better idea!

Local Seafood Prices

How much would one expect to pay for ';local'; seafood at places in the Northern Banks? Mahi costs upwards of $14 per pound here in Middle Tennessee and I am really, really hoping to catch a real deal on mahi and tuna for dinners at the rental in Duck.

Please if you have recommendations of seafood stores or groceries with the best prices in the Corolla to Kill Devil Hills vicinity I would greatly appreciate it.

I am only asking because trips to the Gulf beaches were met with even higher seafood prices than I get here.

Thanks Y%26#39;all.

Local Seafood Prices

You can find fresh seafood at the local Food Lion and Harris Teeter, you should be able to pull up thier websites and search thier specials to see prices or call them directly. I know that there is also a speciality seafood store in the Food Lion plaza; I cannot remember the name - but, a simple search should help you find it - they may even have a website.

I have found most prices to be comparable to where we live - NW PA.

Biltmore Estate: how to make the best of our time there?

Hello,

We will be in Gatlinburg the first week of June and we want to include a 1 day trip to Biltmore Estate in our vacation plan. We want to make the best of our time there and we plan on arriving no later than 10:30am in the morning. We will also buy admission tickets online, to save time and few bucks. I am thinking to add the audio tour, but are there any other extras we should consider adding (specialty tours?).

We want to see the interior of the house, but also have a chance to visit the gardens and the winery (we are not wine drinkers, but I still think it%26#39;s worth stopping by). I know the estate is huge and it is impossible to see it all in 1 day (or 5-6 hours), but do you have any tips that you can share to make the best of our time while visiting there?

Thank you,

Monica

Biltmore Estate: how to make the best of our time there?

Hi Monica-

Buying your tickets online is a great way to go. Definitely get the audio tour - self guided really leaves you wanting explanations of everything. As much as you want to see the winery, I don%26#39;t suggest you try to fit it in. It%26#39;s great, but the house is unbelievable and huge - the real reason to visit.

I would focus on the house first (make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes - there are lots of stairs and it%26#39;s a lot of walking in general). Once you%26#39;ve finished touring the house, focus the rest of your time walking around the gardens- they%26#39;re wonderful. If you ever have time to return, take time then to visit the winery and the farm village. If you%26#39;re planning a repeat visit down the road, make it in the spring (when the grounds are spectacular during the spring flower festival) or the fall (when the leaves turn) - both are fantastic times to visit.

Enjoy!

Tara

Biltmore Estate: how to make the best of our time there?

Great advice, Tara! We will tour the house with the audio tour, check out the gardens and save the rest for a future visit.

Personally I think you can do it all in 5-6 hours without being rushed. Definitely tour the house and get the audio. They have just updated the audio tour to not only tell you about the rooms, but to include stories of the people that lived there and their lives. (makes it a bit more personal so you can relate with the people of that time). The gardens are a must and then head over to the winery. You can grab some lunch at the Bistro and browse in the gift shop. You will have a great time.

We will definitely tour the house (with the audio tour) and the gardens, have lunch at the Bistro and if we still have time we will check out the winery too. It will be a long day considering that we also have to drive from Gatlinburg and back, but we will take it easy the next day :)

I just hope for good weather while we are there!

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