Coldwell Banker Islands Blog

Construction is nearly complete on the second of two luxury homes on the hillside overlooking Brewers Bay on Tortola.

Price:$2,200,000

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Melanie Amaro, who recently won the American X-Factor competition along with a $5-million recording contract, has said she is committed to promoting the BVI.
She was responding to a statement in a telephone conversation today with Premier and Minister for Tourism Dr. D. Orlando Smith, who said the BVI Tourist Board will speak with her about possible areas of mutual co-operation.
“I love the BVI, it is my home. I will definitely promote the BVI. When people ask me where I am from, I am always proud to tell them I am from the BVI,” Amaro said.
The Premier also congratulated Amaro, “You have made the Government and people of these Virgin Islands extremely proud. We were rooting for you from day one. We were admiring your progress; all hands were on deck voting for you each week, Melanie. We had thrust our weight behind you 110 percent because we wanted you to win,” he said.
“We were intrigued with your poise, grace, humility and the strength of your voice,” he said, adding, “You are an inspiration to us all and we are so proud of you, so much that December 23 was declared ‘Melanie Amaro Day’.

Source:bvinews.com

Only eight fortunate purchasers will be able to take advantage of a very luxurious, very secluded
and very special Villa community on the beach in beautiful Brewers Bay.
Combining first class design by award winning Architects, OBM International, with a world class waterfront location, residents will truly be able to
escape to their very own Caribbean refuge.

Price:$2,500,000

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When you are out and about in your home town in the beautiful British Virgin Islands you will undoubtedly notice there are many home alterations under construction, together with various lawn signs for roofing contractors, replacement windows, or kitchen remodeling. While these bigger projects may increase home value, it is possible to find low-cost projects that can also add to the value of your home.

1. Paint the Interior. If you have not given your home a new coat of paint for 10 years or more, your ceiling is most likely looking dull and the colors on your walls are out of style.

New homeowners will often make the decision to use the same color throughout most of the house. And the color of choice tends to be white or a neutral color. It is possible to increase the value of your home by choosing to use more contemporary colors and opting for more vibrant colors for just a few rooms in your house. Freshly painted ceilings will brighten your home.

2. Refinish the front door. First impressions mean a great deal and if your front door is needing work this will be setting the wrong tone straight away.

Refinishing front doors does not usually take much effort. If it’s painted, make sure you sand the surface to make it rough before applying a new coat of paint. If it’s stained it is advisable to use a very fine grade of sandpaper to guarantee the sealer will adhere to the surface.

When you are preparing the door for that finish coat, check the weather stripping for damage. With soaring energy costs, adding newer and more effective weather stripping will help in reducing your costs in utility bills.

Whether you are painting or staining, start the task early in the morning that way the surface will dry before you need to close the door for the evening.

3. Replace your bathroom fan with one that’s rated for a room twice the size. Bathrooms are the second most costly room in the home to remodel. Apart from leaking pipes, nothing will cause much harm to your bathroom other than an excessive amount of steam from the shower.

Replacing your bathrooms fan with one ranked for a room twice its size will rapidly remove moisture and protect your bathroom from mold.

4. Replace kitchen cabinet hardware. Although the kitchen is easily the most costly room in your home to remodel, there are other options which will cost far less to make your kitchen look fresher. Replacing your kitchen cabinet hardware with self-closing hinges and new knobs or pulls can change the look of your kitchen – quickly and inexpensively.

5. Replace laminate kitchen counter tops. This is actually the most costly project on this list, however it can significantly improve the look of your kitchen - for under 15 % of the price of remodeling your kitchen completely. Laminates previously came in just a number of shades of white, however now it is available in most colors and designs, a lot of which resemble much more expensive solid surface materials, like stone or tile.

Another advantage to changing your laminate kitchen counters is that it could be a one-day job rather than the 8-12 weeks of disruption you would experience when completely remodeling the entire kitchen.

6. Landscape the front yard. When the shrubbery is overgrown, the wild birds are eating grubs in your lawn, and dandelions are the only flowers left in the yard, maybe its time to get out the gardening gloves and tools.

Landscape designs today do not necessarily mean three evergreen bushes on the left and on the right - there are many options of plants that will add color and style to your yard. Visit the local landscape designs center to see the dozens of ideas they will have for you.

7. Attack the list of maintenance jobs you’ve been meaning to get around to. Properly maintaining your home means keeping minor jobs minor, instead of allowing them to get bigger, and much more pricey.

8. Refinish your hardwood flooring. Scratched and worn hardwood flooring detract from your home’s value, and when left unprotected, you may need to replace them, resulting in a huge cost. Paying an expert to refinish them may be beneficial – going too far when using the sander can leave permanent indentations in your flooring. Find a list of companies in your area. And when you are refinishing your flooring, consider staining them for any dramatic, new look.

So if you want to ring in the changes this new year and add value to your home inexpensively, these tips should help you on the right path to a new fresh look for your home while adding value at the same time.

Governor Boyd Mc Cleary and family, along with the Premier Dr. the Honorable D. Orlando Smith, joined staff, patients, and friends at this year’s Peebles Hospital Christmas programme, continuing a long standing tradition.
Opening the proceedings, Hospital Nursing Director, Ms. Jascinth Campbell-Hannibal, gave apologies on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition Honorable Ralph T. O’Neal, who was absent, due to being ill. She asked that persons hold him in their hearts, and to send prayers during this time.
Governor Boyd Mc Cleary brought season’s greetings, as he expressed his pleasure, along with his wife Jenny and daughter Emily, in being able to join in the tradition this year. “It is important to remember those who are here, and to make it a happy day as it can be for them.”
The Honorable Premier, expressed his thanks to the Governor and his family, as well as to all who were in attendance. He specially noted, long standing attendants; Mr. Elton Georges, Ms. Margaret Bord and Teacher Inez Turnbull. “I have been coming here for many years and I am happy to be here this year. Christmas is a time when everyone should get together and forgive, it is a time to heal, as we move forward towards the New Year.” The Premier said.
Gratitude was expressed to Morgan and Morgan Trust Corporation Ltd., Mossack Fonseca & Co. (BVI) Ltd. National Bank of the Virgin Islands, SOL SLU Ltd., Smith’s Ferry, First Bank of the Virgin Islands, Mr. Glenroy Forbes, and the Honorable Ralph T. O’Neal for their monetary contributions in making this year’s annual Christmas programme a success.

Source:bvinews.com

When you have had all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season in your British Virgin Islands Home it’s very easy to allow New Year’s Eve plans take a backseat. When the gifts have been bought, wrapped and given, the food is all cooked and eaten and all of the the relatives which were visiting have left, who has the energy to plan a party? Well, you can! Just follow these simple tips to help you ring in the new year in style.

Step One: Send invites via email, phone calls and texts, this will allow you to receive and keep track of RSVP’s quickly and easily, you dont need a fancily designed invite to ask close friends and relatives to celebrate with you and this way it is possible to make last minute plans. A good tip is to invite your guests to arrive at around 8pm, so that you have time to catch up and build up to ringing in the new year together.

Step Two: Plan the menu. Don’t feel as though you need to make all the food yourself. Look at your grocer’s freezer section for prepared snacks. Other easy refreshments are fruits and veggies cut into bite-sized portions and offered with cheese cubes. If your finances are tight, request visitors to create a snack, dessert or drinks to share. Speaking of drinks, consider planning one special cocktail or punch (and possibly a non-alcoholic version for designated motorists) and asking visitors to bring wine, beer and/or champagne if they so desire.

Step Three: Organize a playlist. Are you unsure what tunes work well for a New Year’s Eve party? Take a look at the internet for good ideas, using a free Internet radio service is also a good tip, as this means you’ll avoid needing to purchase any music and have the ability to mix your choices should you so choose.

Step Four: Clean. You want your house to be presentable for when visitors arrive, but don’t stress too much over cleaning because you almost certainly have plenty of cleaning to complete after everybody leaves. Concentrate on the basics in the most used areas and make sure anything you wouldn’t want your guests to see is put away.

Step Five: Party! Consider buying some noisemakers, party hats, etc., to add a festive touch to your party.

Remember New Years Eve is an exciting event filled with the anticipation of what the new year may bring, so enjoy with friends and family and ring in the new year they way you want to!

During its upcoming Athletes Awards Recognition Gala on December 28th at Drakes Point, the BVI Athletics Association will hand out two Lifetime Achievement Awards. They are to be awarded to Rose Phillips King-Adams, and Theda Bucknor-Forbes, who have contributed a combined 37 years of service to the association.
King-Adams was the territory’s leading female athlete in the 1970`s, and at one time held the 100, 200, 400m and Long Jump National Records. She was on the territory’s first CAC Championships team, finishing seventh in the long Jump IAAF World Championships, and Carifta Games teams. After her career, she served as association secretary through 2002.
Last year, during the association 40th anniversary, Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to all the presidents who guided the association between 1970 and 2008. During the event, the association will dole out numerous awards in eight categories, recognizing athletes and coaches who have served a minimum of five years.
Colonial Insurance will be handing out the Comeback Athlete of the Year award, which recognizes an athlete who has been injured, returns to make a national team and meets the criteria established. Since January 2010, Colonial Insurance has been supporting the association’s athletes rehabilitation program, which assists athletes in getting treatment from injuries. They will also present the Junior and Sr. Division awards while Premier Dental will recognize the Youth Division awards recipients.

Source:bvinews.com

For the purchaser whose lifestyle dictates beauty, luxury and prestige and who is not willing to compromise on quality of construction and finish, spectacular views, convenience of location and all round comfort, this 6 bedroom newly constructed home with pool should be at the top of the list. Perched high on Soldier Hill, the property provides breathtaking vistas out over Brewers Bay and indeed north west to Jost Van Dyke and St Thomas.

Price:$4,000,000

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If Christmas is in your British Virgin Islands Home this year, there is no need to panic . You will find a couple of easy tips for you to follow to ensure your Christmas goes off well without a hitch. Being organized is paramount and to really make it memorable try doing something different to the traditional sit down lunch. As you live in a warmer climate you may even decide to have your Christmas lunch outdoors on the patio. Your Christmas party could be a pool party in which your guests can enjoy a cooling dip in the pool!

Plan your Menu

Ensure you know what you are going to be cooking and that you have organized a day to collect the meat or seafood you have ordered. You might like choose to serve a traditional Christmas feast indoors, or if you are going to enjoy the outdoors with a barbecue, seafood, meat, and salads are a good option. Of course whether it is formal or casual, deserts are always important for guests with a sweet tooth!

Formal or Casual?

Do you enjoy a classic formal Christmas with a fancy meal, making use of your best silverware or perhaps a Christmas outdoors round the barbecue more your scene? Either option is a terrific way to celebrate Christmas and also to spend some time with family and friends. For any formal Christmas decorate your table with candles, tinsel and other Christmas decorations. Set out your good tableware and serve your meal with all the trimmings.

Select the best wines you can buy, with a nice sparkling wine to accompany the start of the meal. If you decide on a casual Christmas lunch turn on the barbecue and prepare some prawns or bake a whole fish. You may even prepare meats on the barbecue. Pavlova is a superb dessert on a warm day, along with a fresh fruit salad, or you can even serve serve Christmas pudding cold.

Decorations

To get into the festive spirit make sure you decorate your home. As well as the Christmas tree decorate the table and hang up tinsel and baubles along with other decorations round the room or yard.

Presents

Know in advance whether your family and friends are giving presents. Some families go all out and purchase presents for every member of the family, others don’t bother at all. If you’re watching your spending possibly organize a secret Santa, where each member of the group buys one gift for just one other member of the family. It should be taken care of some time before Christmas to give each person enough time to purchase gifts.

Telecoms Company, LIME opened its 4G experience center last Friday, at its Flemming Street store effectively bringing the world’s latest and best in mobile technology to the BVI.
Promising speeds much faster than any service available in the market at the moment, the company says customers can visit the store to touch, feel, play and interact with the latest devices in a 4G powered environment.
“4G is alive in BVI, and everybody is invited for a test drive. We are proud to bring the latest in mobile technology the BVI, with a leap that will result in our network being up to sixty times faster than we have ever had it,” said Sean Auguste, General Manager, LIME BVI.
“The center is just the start of the roll out of the network, which will take place over the next three months, until we deliver a full 4G network to the BVI at the end of March 2012,” he continued.
The 4G Experience Center is part of the US$80M investment the company is making to finance major improvements to its regional mobile networks, which will enable its customers to access blazing fast Internet and numerous sophisticated data services on their wireless devices.
Highlighting the benefits of the technology to the business sector, Auguste pointed out that organizations which operate in markets where 4G is available are enjoying improved productivity and new ways of working.

Source:bvinews.com