Deep Creek Lake – Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales Blog

Jodi Taylor Refosco Named President of the VRMA

We are thrilled to announce that Taylor-Made owner, Jodi Taylor Refosco, was named President of the Board of Directors for the Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA). The gavel was officially passed at the International Conference that was held in Las Vegas.

About VRMA

The Vacation Rental Management Association is an organization of vacation rental professionals and vendors. Members have educational and networking opportunities that strengthen their businesses and the industry as a whole. VRMA is the voice for vacation rental managers with thousands of members around the world.

Jodi was first introduced to VRMA by her parents over twenty years ago. She has held leadership roles that include serving as Secretary and Vice President of the board. Additionally, she was part of the conference planning and education committees.

Taylor-Made employees regularly attend VRMA events in order to connect with their peers and stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends. By taking advantage of these opportunities, both the company and the staff are elevated in their ability to assist travelers and home owners. It keeps them on top of the latest trends, products and processes.

About Jodi

Jodi started Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales, in 2008 with her husband, Joe, and her brother, Chad Taylor. Their inventory numbers over 400 vacation rental homes along with property services for 150 non-renting homes. For over a decade, their employees have provided exceptional service to guests and owners. A growing real estate division caters to Deep Creek Lake area buyers and sellers as well.

VRMA Photo

“I am honored to serve as President of this incredible organization that has been instrumental in the growth of our industry,” said Jodi Taylor Refosco. “I have great respect for those who have held this seat before me and look forward to upholding their legacy.”

Snowshoeing at Deep Creek Lake

If you like to hike, you’ll love snowshoeing at Deep Creek Lake! When the newscasters are frantically reporting the latest “blizzard of the century,” that’s the perfect time to strap on some snowshoes and head outside. Whether your goal is to get out for a leisurely walk in the snow or go for a more physically challenging adventure, you’ll find this traditional mode of travel easy to learn—and effective at getting you where you want to go. With miles of hiking trails available to snowshoe enthusiasts in area state parks, Garrett County is home to endless opportunities for winter backcountry travel.

Snowshoeing at Deep Creek Lake

History of Snowshoeing

The origin and age of snowshoes are not precisely known. Historians believe they were invented from 4,000 to 6,000 years ago, probably starting in Central Asia. Before humans built snowshoes, nature provided examples. Several animals, most notably the snowshoe hare, had evolved over the years with oversized feet enabling them to move more quickly through deep snow. Continue reading Snowshoeing at Deep Creek Lake

Deep Creek Lake Hiking Trails that You Can Explore

There are so many Deep Creek Lake hiking trails that you can explore! We are giving you an overview because we can hardly cover all of them here. Garrett Trails is a great resource for more detailed info on Deep Creek Lake hiking trails.

Deep Creek Lake Hiking Trails Overview

The statistics don’t tell the whole story, but they’re enough to entice hikers of all experience levels: over 80,000 acres dedicated to public parks, forests and open space areas, abundant wildlife populations and scenic beauty unlike what is found anywhere else in Maryland. The state forests and parks of Garrett County offer an immense, challenging and easily accessible hiking paradise.

Savage River State Forest

Savage River State Forest comprises 54,000 acres along the Savage River and the reservoir. It is the largest of Maryland’s state forests and features miles of rugged trails. Avid backpackers will enjoy the lengthy and picturesque trails found in this area. Big Savage Trail is the longest, following a 17 mile path along the ridge of Big Savage Mountain. Travel through upland forests of oak and hickory and reap the reward of the breathtaking view at High Rock. Before you lace up your boots, be sure to stop by forest headquarters to pick up a backcountry permit. Continue reading Deep Creek Lake Hiking Trails that You Can Explore

Tips for Your First Deep Creek Summer Vacation

If you are planning your first Deep Creek summer vacation, it can be a little overwhelming. There are tons of fun activities and adventures to enjoy! We put together a list of some absolute “musts” for first-timers.

see the sights

No Deep Creek summer vacation is complete without a little sightseeing! One of the most popular attractions is Muddy Creek Falls at Swallow Falls State Park. This towering waterfall is the tallest in the state of Maryland. It is surrounded by pristine forests and amazing scenery. Plus, hiking trails lead you to two more picturesque waterfalls. This is a great selfie spot!

If you have kids in your group, you cannot pass up a visit to the Discovery Center at Deep Creek Lake State Park. Hands-on displays highlight the environment of Western Maryland. During the summer, they have daily events that include seeing the birds in the aviary, arts & crafts, guided hikes, fishing with a naturalist and more!

Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center — See the Birds in the Aviary at the Discovery Center

Continue reading Tips for Your First Deep Creek Summer Vacation

HART for Animals at Deep Creek Lake

HART for Animals is an important part of the Deep Creek Lake community. They use 85% of all revenues to support charitable programs, including adoptions, spay/neuters, rescue and transports and sheltering. Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales has supported their work for years through donations, volunteering and event sponsorship. HART for Animals is tireless in their endeavor to improve the condition of animals in Western Maryland.

HART is more than adoption center. They are also home to Bredel Veterinary Clinic, Bed ‘N Bark Inn pet hotel and Muttworks grooming.

Fast & Furriest 5K Run/1K Walk

In 2017, we sponsored the very first Fast & Furriest 5K Run/1K walk in conjunction with HART for Animals. It was a big success, and we are continuing the sponsorship in 2018. On Saturday, June 30th, you can bring your pup join us in supporting HART.

Registration for this dog friendly fun run/walk starts at 7:30AM at HART – 1265 Bumble Bee Rd., Accident, MD 21520. It is a fun outing for the entire family! Get more information and make plans to attend the 2018 Fast & Furriest 5K Run/1K Walk!

HART for Animals guest bartender challenge

Every spring, the Taylor-Made team looks forward to HART’s Guest Bartender Challenge. Local companies “compete” to raise the most money. Each one hosts a night where they bartend at an establishment. All tips and funds raised from silent auction items are donated to HART for Animals. Continue reading HART for Animals at Deep Creek Lake

Budget Design Tips for Vacation Rental Owners

This blog post on budget design tips was written by a special guest contributor. Kristina Dorville and her family recently purchased The Quarterdeck. They gave this lake access chalet a complete makeover with stunning results. She offered some great budget design tips for making updates that are easy on your wallet.

Kristina’s Tips

If I could start over in my professional career, I’d like to decorate homes. But not the normal way. Anyone can go to a store, spend a ton of money and have a good looking house. MY favorite part of decorating… finding the ‘treasure’ – you know, that one chair, pillow, or rug that fits with your design idea but doesn’t break the bank. I love a treasure hunt. I love a good sale. But best of all, I love making my house feel like a well-decorated, stylish home for as little money as possible!

If you’re looking for a refresh of your space, there are some easy ways to find the treasures that work for you without the hefty price tag.

Shop Around & Wait for Sales

First and foremost, you must be patient. Don’t buy the first thing you see that you like. Look around and shop around. Wait for sales, if you know they are coming (around the holidays is a great time). I got some great, after Christmas deals on things that had nothing to do with the holiday. Swing through the same store multiple times and also go to the nearby, same stores. Every store – even the same ones in various locations around town – have different stuff and different prices. Continue reading Budget Design Tips for Vacation Rental Owners

Meet Our Vacation Rental Maintenance Team

Taylor-Made owners and guests benefit from our in-house vacation rental maintenance team. They have the experience and expertise to handle almost any situation that may arise.

Over the past year, we sought out local talent with specific skill-sets to save our owners money. We identified tasks associated with high-cost vendors, and hired new team members accordingly. Once they were onboard, they received extensive customer service training so that they could easily interact with guests or owners. Expanding our team to include HVAC, plumbing and electrical experts can save owners $150+ on a routine service call.

vacation rental maintenance

Gary Paugh, Maintenance Manager

Gary has been with Taylor-Made for eight years. His background in the military and positive attitude make him a natural leader. A native of nearby Mineral County, WVA, his years in the Army took him around the world to Korea, Germany, Iraq and Afghanistan. While in the service, he was a Platoon Sargent who supervised thirty-one people.

In his years with Taylor-Made, Gary has earned certifications for the repair of HVAC systems, hot tubs, plumbing and appliances. He feels that we have the best maintenance team yet with a very diverse knowledge base and willingness to learn new things. Gary says, “It makes me feel proud to work here – like I did in the military.” Continue reading Meet Our Vacation Rental Maintenance Team

Tips for Buying Lakefront Real Estate at Deep Creek

Buying lakefront real estate is a different experience than buying an ordinary home in a typical neighborhood. When you buy lakefront real estate at Deep Creek, you are also buying a way of life.

lakefront real estate

Buyers frequently ask our agents about lakefront real estate. Our experts point out all of the differences and things to be aware of. Here are some of their best tips to get you started on your Deep Creek Lake real estate search.

Secure Financing Early

Figure out your financing early on in the process. Unless you are paying in cash, you will need to obtain a mortgage. Getting pre-approved is key when buying a lakefront home. Lakefront home sellers are often advised by their agent to only accept an offer from a pre-approved buyer. Continue reading Tips for Buying Lakefront Real Estate at Deep Creek

Wisp Resort Snow Tubing: 5 Things to Know Before You Go

Wisp Resort snow tubing is a favorite Deep Creek Lake winter activity! There are “no skills required”, so the entire family can enjoy it together.

About Wisp Resort Snow Tubing

Bear Claw Snow Tubing Park offers twelve tubing lanes. Each one is 750 feet long. This area has its own snowmaking and grooming machines. Grab a tube and ride one of the two conveyor carpets to the top of the hill. Staff is on hand to help you out at the top and bottom.

What you need to know before you go

Wisp Resort snow tubing is popular, so reservations are recommended. Each session is two hours. There is no age limit, but kids must be 42 inches tall to go tubing. Currently, the cost for standard sessions is $24 and premium sessions are $34. Always check with Wisp for the most up-to-date pricing. Continue reading Wisp Resort Snow Tubing: 5 Things to Know Before You Go

Check Out Taylor-Made’s Jay Ferguson & Deep Creek Lake on HGTV!

See Deep Creek Lake on HGTV as Jay Ferguson, Broker & Co-Owner of the real estate division, helps buyers choose the perfect Deep Creek Lake home!

Deep Creek Lake on HGTV

Jay was chosen to be featured on HGTV’s brand new series “Lake House Hunters”. It is a spin-off of the wildly popular “House Hunters” series. If you haven’t seen the original show, a real estate agent takes buyers to three different properties that meet their criteria. It gives you an inside glimpse at the decisions and emotions that are part of the home buying process. The show ends with them choosing the right home to meets their needs.

Premiering January 1, 2018 at 6PM EST (check local listings to confirm), the Deep Creek Lake episode follows Ferguson and the Du Plessis family as they search for a lakefront property at Deep Creek Lake. Continue reading Check Out Taylor-Made’s Jay Ferguson & Deep Creek Lake on HGTV!