The new web site is operational, and I can start blogging (even though this comes in mid-development, better late than never).
www.TheOaksTamarindo.com
Congratulations to Lesley MacLeod and Lisa Jo Pelton for a fantastically successful collaboration in creating a site that is simple, informative, and best of all, I think it’s beautiful. [Disclosure: per usual, proud papa had very little to do with the success.]
Construction is proceeding rapidly at The Oaks, as our workers try to make a December 15 deadline that I have set for delivery of the first five buildings in the complex, along with the first swimming pool, ranch and barbecue area. At the same time that I set this deadline, I went out and hired a new, additional construction inspector to prevent haste making waste. This had the not unexpected effect of slowing things down a little in favor of quality control, which is fine by me. I love this guy’s technique. He takes digital photos of problem spots, and does not tell the architect or the foremen where they are. They just get the picture, so to speak. Then they have to find the problem. That means they have to look in every building, inspecting for themselves. Genius.
About that deadline. Even though I have learned not to promise anything in Costa Rica with a definite date, it looks like three of the five buildings will be ready. As long as we can keep the momentum after the customary December break, I will chalk this one up in the “win” column.
The model unit in building one has been Santa’s play house, with endless tinkering by me and our elves resulting in some really cool cosmetic upgrades that we are offering gratis in phase two, and as low cost upgrades to our early buyers in phase one. Chief among these are: a smooth venetian stucco finish on some interior walls; an extended wall between the living room and hall that has a really cool sand and acrylic feature (optional to taste); and moving a door to provide an en-suite bath for the second bedroom, in effect creating two master bedrooms. This last bit came up in response to a stronger than expected rental market, where two practically equal master bedrooms, with baths, are a big plus.
Marketing and sales continue to be driven by walk-in customers. Our location on the main road between Tamarindo and Playa Grande gives us unmistakeable visibility and convenience, ten minutes in one direction to Tamarindo’s restaurants, shops and nightlife, and twelve minutes to the best beaches.
Even when buyers come in with brokers, it usually is the result of driving by, seeing our towers at the entrance, and wanting to see the finished construction.
