I had a very preliminary, very broad discussion with a person in SC about me going there and working. One possible location is Augusta, the other is Beaufort. The other person is a CPA who owns his own very successful business, and I have known him for 20+ years, so it’s not a pipe dream. Actually, it was his idea. One option would be building nice houses, the other option is high dollar remodeling.
Anyone have any valid opinions on those two areas?
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell’em “Certainly, I can!” Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
Replies
Either area would be a nice place to live and work. I don't know much about the Augusta economy but as it has always been an upscale town I would imagine the housing market would be real good. Beaufort is close to Fripp and Hilton Head which are both booming. I have a friend who is a contractor on Hilton Head. He has 60 guys working and is booked for the next year. By the way, Beaufort is a beautiful town also.
My friend says that Hilton Head is losing out to Beaufort as the destination of choice for transplanting Yankees. But they're so close that it doesn't make much difference I suppose.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
Go to Hilton Head, sign your truck "Hilton's Head Builder". My kids live in Augusta/Martinez, GA, across the river from North Augusta, SC. I think the economy is fairly strong in both. A heck of a lot of Country Club developments. Son has a tree and irrigation company, stays busy.
if your a golfer, go to beaufort. if your a bonafide fish nut go to augusta. i've allways wanted to get located around edisto, beaufort areas to live and work, but mostly because of the atmosphere, the fishing, and from my experience, good folks. i go down to a place called bennetts point and sometimes james island to wet my carolina skiff, and have at times picked up real estate guides in an attempt to locate prospective clients in that area. i've never really pursued it as much as i should, but i'd be interested to see how you get set up if you do make the journey. i've built a log home near martinez and had to pick up supplies from maners bldg. supply. it seemed to me to be very much a builders market, but i was only there for one home. the coastal area seems like the berries as far as staying busy, but i've heard from a former apprentice of mine who is framing down there, that the hurricane hardware required in residential construction, is unreal! surely it could be adapted but lookout for increased cost's on things that are not the norm as much inland. if you get set up well i'd like to hear about it. mabe i might pick up on some tips of how to get "in" in another area. take care and best of luck!
j. jordan
http://www.jjordanbuilders.com
I knows all 'bout Jim Island, but refresh my memory on Bennetts Point. I spent 4 years in a reform school there, all the wife's family is still in-state, and she is putting a little pressure on me to go back.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
to tell the truth, i only know how to get there by truck or by boat. it's a little fart of a pier where some commercial schrimpers dock and a bunch a good-ol' boys duck hunt or go after pomps this time of year. you can get there from edisto marina across the tidal creeks out behind otter island, or take the ashepoo down to the intercoastal areas, but i'll be derned if it aint even on a map. my fishing buddy of about ten years and me found it in a bad storm back in '96. we happend to see the lights from the "marina", (you'd laff if you saw what i'm calling a marina). and headed towards safety. after the storm we asked how we could get there by highway and the old man in a thick loooow-country accent gave us the directions. we still go there primarliy because the landings are not that crowded and the old fella' in there can tell you exactly whats bitinn' and what to use. James island has a fine launch but it's very crowded and hard to get in and get out. plus you gotta be in a hurry or the weekend yuppies and there whalers get impatient with a skiff full of flounder. if i get directions i'll give you the main highways to find it. nice place,,, if your okay with ford as opposed to b.m.w.'s
j. jordan
http://www.jjordanbuilders.com
So how do you know Jim Island? I grew up there but everyone in my family moved away when it started getting overdeveloped. It was a fantastic place to grow up since it almost all farms then. Man we had fun!
Edited 10/30/2004 12:30 pm ET by Rick
I know Jim Island cuz I dated a girl from there when I was at the Boys Reform School on the Ashley for 4 yrs.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
Any of you all down there in beaufort know of a guy named Wade Caron. I worked with him for a few years in colorado and then we lost contact after both of us got married. Last I knew, he was headed your way in about '86 or so
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
as an inmate, or a resident?
went down there couple years back, was then and still is a lot of growth think you'll find abundant work in any of the growth areas, mostly along the coast might check w state or chamber of commerce re demographic forecasts had one in newspaper when i was there, couldn't believe how many yankees were moving in, and people migrating to coast
Still talking. I'm probably going there in Jan for an extended visit, and will have time to discuss it mano-a-mano.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
Ed,
Your going there and checking both HH and Augusta out personally and directly, probably smartest thing you could do. Don't hesitate to get in touch with their visitors bureaus, Chambers, etc., to do some alternate research beforehand also. (If ya haven't already.)
It's been years since I lived in SC. Reading this thread brought back a lot of memories. The whole ACE basin...the humidity...the SOBs in Charleston. The breezes on the Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island. John's Island tomatoes. The Angel Oak. Shrimp and grits. The Spoleto Festival.
Eat a lot of the she-crab soup when ya get there...loaded up with sherry! YUM!
Footnote: "ACE" = Ashley, Cooper, Edisto rivers; "SOBs" in CHAS = "South of Broad"; and the humidity in SC no worse than that in most of LA or a lot of TX, IMHO.
Footnote2: The house on ICWW the EX and I built back in '90s...now has a tax assessment value of 25% above the price we sold it for back in '97. My friends that are still in SC tell me their property values consistently still going up; this in a myriad of SC locales since 7000+ of us lost our jobs when the "peace dividend" caused the Charleston Naval Base and Shipyard, to close and we all scattered - some far - but many stayed within the state. Vini, Vidi, Vino! I came, I saw, I wine!
I remember Angel Oak. In fact, I saw a pic of it in National Geographic once. back when I saw it, there was no fence.
I'm not much for she-crab soup, but I did enjoy going to a restaurant (The Trawler?) on the way to Folly I think. Also used to enjoy a restaurant on the ICWW in Murrels Inlet, if my brain still works.
Spent a little time in Wilmington, and we used to go to NC fish camps. Boy that was good food.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
Ah, I'd say your brain still works fine!
BTW, there was no fence round the Angel Oak last I went to see it either...
Trawler restaruant on way to Folly Beach! wow - Hadn't thought about that in ages - good grub.
Still, there are so many good eating places in the whole state. I was spoiled that while living in Mt Plst, we had a lot of them sitting right there in Shem Creek.
And thanks in advance for letting me slobber up all your share of she-crab soup! God I love that stuff.Vini, Vidi, Vino! I came, I saw, I wine!
So what's the scoup on the humidity in summer?
There is usually a brief rain squall about 3 pm every day. It's right on the ocean, so there's no lack of available moisture. And the mean elevation is about 3 feet, so if it rains hard at high tide, many city styreets are awash.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
I'd pick Beaufort...close to Hilton Head(but far enough away), Down the road from Savannah and Charleston, close to Roebling Road Racetrack....
My wife and I ditch the kids with grandma every February and go to Fripp, stay at a friends condo for a week or two. Relive the honeymoon kinda thing.
Johnson Creek tavern is good(on the way to Fripp, left side) On the waterfront in Beaufort...Plums, Luthers,......okay, so I like to eat when I'm down there.
My parents had a place on HH when we were in HS and college....we always did the spring break thing there....always thought that would be a bite of a place to live during tourist season, too much traffic, to many weenies...that, and I hate golf...go figure.
I'd move in a second....
boy,,, this thread woke up an old interest i've had for years! i'd move in a second too! every time i've been to that area i've had a great time, hell, i spent three years there while stationed in charleston ('85-'88) and had the time of my life fishing the santee and cooper river! heck of a nice place but too expensive to just hang out till you got set up. for me it'd take a serious plan of attack to get liscensing, marketing, and the likes all set up. but it would dang sure be worth it!
I'd take it in the winter, but in the summer, forget it. Charleston s.c humidity. Un less your in an air-conditioned office, or in a shop with a fan blowing at you. People say you get used to it, I can't see how. You are a carpenter working outside, right?
so whatever happened? did ya' get set up and get started or still in the prelim stages? i was kinda lookin forward to hearin about how ya got set up on new turf, albeit you grew up there. anyways, good luck!
j. jordan
http://www.jjordanbuilders.com