How has COVID-19 changed the landscape for conducting real estate activities?
REALTORS®️ are using a variety of tactics to connect buyers and sellers during the COVID-19 era. Real estate is a very personal, interactive and relationship built business. Our team is committed to keeping everyone safe and healthy. We are finding ways to continue to work hard for our clients while offering great service in a time of social distancing.
Staying Connected with Technology
Taylor-Made real estate agents are working remotely during our stay-home orders. There are lots of ways that we can communicate with clients virtually.
-Agents have been doing home tours and open houses with platforms like Facebook Live or YouTube to show a newly listed properties. Buyers can post their questions about the property and make plans to view it at a later date.
-Another way to stay in touch with our clients is through educational posts on social media. Buyers and Sellers are wanting to know how things are in our area, what we are seeing with the market, if business has been affected and so on. Keeping open lines of communication and daily updates will alleviate some stress to those that own here or are seeking a second home at the lake.
As your trusted partner for great vacations, and in light of recent headlines, we want to give you an inside look at some of the many “back of the house” procedures that into maintaining a safe and clean environment. Lots of great people make up our team, and their goal is to provide you with the best vacation possible.
(Please note that Taylor-Made canceled all reservations March 20-April 6, 2020 with everyone’s safety in mind. We continue to abide by the recommendations and mandates of state and local officials.)
Housekeeping & Laundry
In this video, Joe Refosco, Taylor-Made owner, chats with some of those team members. Shelia McCracken is our General Manager and oversees the housekeeping and laundry departments. She discusses some of the ongoing training and processes we have in place along with products that are used.
Highlights include:
-Housekeepers are following our existing cleaning standards but have increased focus on high touch and high traffic areas.
-They use products provided by Taylor-Made that are EPA certified and meet the standards for hospital use.
-Taylor-Made has an in-house laundry facility that can clean linens and dry them at high temperatures.
Whether you are trying to appeal to vacationers or buyers, these home Staging tips will help you get your home “listing ready”! The first impression your home makes means everything! It’s always a good idea to spruce up your home and prove that it’s worth every penny you’re asking.
The following are some home staging tips to draw potential buyers/vacationers to the best features and make them imagine how the home will fit their lifestyles. The way one lives in the home is very different from the way the home needs to look for showings and pictures. If you are interested in buying or selling real estate in the area, you can contact me, Betsy Spiker Holcomb, at betsy@deepcreekvacations.comor 301-616-5022.
Home Staging Tips
-Think clean and open spaces for your home – especially in the entrance or foyer. Remove any excess furniture and accessories from the entrance, to set the stage for a positive first impression.
-Remove any clutter – make sure the kitchen and bathrooms countertops are clear of all personal items. Hang fresh towels in the bathrooms.
-Temporarily remove any excess knickknacks or family photos.
-Eliminate any odors from pets and cooking in the home. Place potpourri in the bathrooms, use air freshener and deodorizer, especially with indoor pets.
-Let light in – open all blinds and curtains, turn on the lights if you know the house may be shown that day.
Discover what’s new at Deep Creek Lake! We have started compiling our 2019 list of new businesses in the Deep Creek Lake area. Check back often for updates!
The next time you are in town, stop by one of these fine establishments:
Deep Creek Axe Throwing Company
Open year round, this is a fun way to test your aim! It is kind of like playing darts but with axes! Located at Monkey Business Adventure Park, it is available to ages eight and up.
Deep Creek Water Trampolines
If your staying at one of our homes with a private dock, you can have your own private water trampoline that will keep the kids smiling for ours! It is a great addition to your lakefront activities. Give them a call at 301-501-5195 to make reservations and schedule delivery!
Sipside Lounge
Located in Oakland’s historic downtown, Sipside serves up classic cocktails, craft beers and fine wines. Live weekend entertainment and a cool atmosphere make it a great spot to hang-out with friends.
Roots Yoga
Centrally located at the Fort in McHenry, you will find everything from restorative to high intensity classes, women’s gatherings, blacklight yoga, dance, and a variety of other wellness workshops!
If you haven’t made your vacation plans, search now for the best summer selection. Don’t miss out!
Southern Garrett Boys Basketball team finished second in the Maryland 1A state championship, but according to much of Garrett County, they will be forever #1. Our community in Garrett County always bands together and it was very evident at the State playoffs in College Park, MD with the sea of red and white in the stands. Also, the Southern Garrett Wrestling Squad won the State Championship again this year going undefeated! Continue reading Southern Garrett Boys Basketball Team Plays in State Championship
Setting the Right Price for your Deep Creek Lake area home is the most crucial step to real estate success. Determining the right price for your home is a difficult task. By setting your price too high, your home may become stagnate on the market. If your home is priced too low, you may lose out on thousands of dollars!
Use Your Resources – Your Agent!
What you need is someone who works in the market everyday – and that person is your agent. No one can offer you a better opinion of pricing and sales. Once your agent is familiar with your home, he or she can prepare a CMA and propose a price.
No Home is an Island …
Real estate moves in cycles. While home prices have usually risen over time, the path is unpredictable. What you will get for your home – and the time it will take to get it – depend on the overall market.
No Tears.
Be objective about your home when determining price. Remember, it is not relevant what you paid, how long you lived there, or how much you adore the property. The important consideration is what it will do in the market.
Is Your Home Overbuilt?
Generally, nicer homes yield higher sales prices. However, the closer you get to the top of the market, that theory may change. Overbuilt homes rarely sell within the price range it appears that they should. Buyers in the price range of the overbuilt home are generally interested in more upscale communities, while the typical buyer for the area cannot afford to pay a significantly higher price. Unfortunately, sellers with homes that are overbuilt will end up accepting less than they think they should.
The Deep Creek Market
Your Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales real estate agent is here to help you! Helping you reach your goal is their number #1 objective. In order to do that, your home MUST be priced properly. **Here’s an interesting fact, over the past year in Deep Creek Lake, homes with lower days on market sold for an average of 95% of list price. Homes with longer days on market only got an average of 90% of list price. What are the obvious takeaways? If your home is priced at or slightly below market value, you will sell faster and for more money! If your home is over-priced, it will take longer to sell and you will not get as much at closing. The average sales price for Deep Creek Lake homes is $500,000. Based on our list to close calculations, if you price this home incorrectly, you may lose as much at $50,000 in negotiations! No one wants that. When you’re ready to list your home, schedule an in depth consultation with a Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales agent, they will guide you through the pricing process and make sure that you get the most money possible for your home!
**Data from BrightMLS – deemed to be accurate but not guaranteed
Special thanks to Beverly Everett, guest contributor!
Deep Creek Lake Real Estate Agents, The Everett Team
Most people recognize Bob and Beverly Everett from simply hearing them utter a single word. Their deep Southern drawl is as unmistakable as their down-home hospitality and charming friendliness. Not only does this respected local business team with over 15 years experience in real estate speak with a unique accent – it’s simple in the Everett’s nature to accentuate the positive. One way they do this is by making the most of the great life they’ve discovered here.
“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” – Mark Twain
My name is Jay Ferguson and I am one of the owners of the real estate division of Taylor Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales. I am entering my 19th year in the real estate business here in Garrett County and at Deep Creek Lake. If you are interested, you can find out more about me personally and my background here.
I will be writing a monthly blog post about our local real estate market, sharing & interpreting statistics and offering some insights into the market as a whole…as I see it. These are my personal thoughts and musings about the market in general and are not intended as anything more specific.
Lastly, every stat I reference is based on the official stats published by Bright MLS on or around the 15th of each month. My plan is to give you straightforward stats, analysis and let you interpret what you read. This first post will be longer than most, as I have more background to cover to bring you up to speed.
January 2019 Real Estate Rundown
So, without further ado, lets jump into some numbers!
2018 was an off-year compared to the robust numbers we experienced in 2017. The market was down in almost every measurable category. Total sales volume (-12.36%) and average sales price (-6.78%) both dropped over the past year. The total number of units sold was down nearly 6%. Continue reading January 2019 Real Estate Rundown By Jay Ferguson
Deep Creek Lake holiday events keep things festive in the mountain of Western Maryland throughout late November and early December. If you love unique, local art or are looking for fun kids’ activities, you won’t be disappointed.
It is easy to catch the spirit of the season when you experience fun activities with friends and family. The best way to start is to choose your perfect mountain home – maybe one with a cozy fireplace or bubbling outdoor hot tub – and then plan your trip around one of these favorite Deep Creek Lake holiday events.
FESTIVAL OF TREES GARRETT COUNTY November 29-30 at the Garrett County Fairgrounds
Benefitting the Dove Center, there are lots of family activities to enjoy. Breakfast with Santa, crafts, face painting, and more will keep the kids entertained. Plus, you can shop for holiday gifts from local artisans and vendors. Beautifully decorated trees are found throughout the exhibit hall, and they are auctioned off at 6PM on Saturday as the grand finale. MORE INFO
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING
November 30 at Honi-Honi Bar, 7PM
Fun for the entire family, the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Honi Honi Bar also features photos with Santa Claus and live entertainment from 8-11pm. MORE INFO
CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE
December 6-7 at the Spruce Forest Artisan Village, 4-8PM Fri., Noon to 8PM Sat.
This event is a local favorite. Candle luminaries light the village that is filled with fire-warmed artisan studios and historic museums. Get to know the artists and buy unique holiday gifts. There are activities for kids as well as choral programs. MORE INFO
A GREAT SMALL TOWN CHRISTMAS
Downtown Oakland, December 6-7 Experience the small town charm of Oakland! The event centers around the historic town center. There are fun festivities every weekend that include photos with Santa, free soup from local non-profits, great deals at local shops, a tree lighting ceremony and much more! MORE INFO
Ugly Christmas Sweater Party at the Honi-Honi
December 21, 8PM-11PM
Break out your ugliest Christmas sweater and head to the Honi-Honi for great live entertainment by Brother Short. MORE INFO
Storytime with Santa at Taylor-Made
December 24
Santa makes his annual visit to the Taylor-Made office to read a story and take photos before heading out to deliver toys.
More Deep Creek Lake holiday events will pop up in the next week or two, so I’ll add them this post when I have more info. Check back, and I’ll keep you updated!
The Garrett County Airport hosts the Wings & Wheels Fly-In each August. The 2018 date is August 18th. It is a free event that is fun for the entire family!
Wings & Wheels Fly-In
Event Details
Come out to the Garrett County Airport from 10AM-3PM! It is a rare chance to get up close and personal with airplanes and classic cars. In the past, there have been biplanes, small jets, restored warbirds and many other models. Also, you can see helicopters and emergency vehicles. The Mountain Top Cruisers Car Club from Oakland brings antique cars, hot rods and dragsters from the 1950s to the present.
Check out the Garrett County Fair schedule! Make plans to enjoy this favorite Deep Creek Lake area summer event.
Fair week is a popular time for Deep Creek Lake vacations. Our homes usually fill up early. There is something for every age and interest. From fun rides and great food to exciting events and adorable animals, families can experience the best of Garrett County. Check out our top 5 favorite things to see and do at the fair.
The Garrett County Fair also gives visitors a glimpse into Garrett County’s agricultural community. It is a key part of the area’s heritage. Many local children are involved in 4-H and enter animals that they raise. This is a family tradition that goes back decades.
