vacation rentals – 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.”

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

Your Guide to Easter Weekend at Deep Creek Lake

Spring is coming to the mountains of Western Maryland! If you are spending the extended Easter weekend at Deep Creek Lake, there are lots of fun events to keep you entertained. Plus, you can spend time enjoying the outdoors. Check out area state parks that offer hiking trails, fishing and biking.

I will update the post as more local Deep Creek Lake events are announced.

Our Guide to Easter Weekend at Deep Creek Lake:

Saturday, March 31

Swallow Falls Nature Tour
9am at Swallow Falls State Park
2hrs. Learn about the park, the ecosystem, bears and the local inside scoop. $15 per person. Perfect for first time visitors. http://allearthecotours.com

Natural Egg Dyeing
10am-Noon at the Discovery Center at Deep Creek Lake State Park
This hands on activity demonstrates how beets, onions, grape juice, and other natural items can be used as dyes. Bring 6 hardboiled eggs (per child) wiped off with a mild vinegar solution. Plus, there’s a chance to meet the Easter bunny!

Smiley’s Fun Zone Easter Egg Hunt
11am-1pm at Smiley’s Fun Zone
Bring your basket for candy, prizes, and pictures with the Easter Bunny and Smiley!

Egg Hunt
Noon-4pm at Broadford Park
This egg hunt is divided into age groups: 2 and under, 3 – 5, 6 – 8, and 9 -12. The Easter Bunny will be hiding over 6,000 eggs!

Continue reading Your Guide to Easter Weekend at Deep Creek Lake

Top Tips for Deep Creek Vacation Rental Owners

Many people who love vacationing at Deep Creek Lake dream of one day owning a home here. Putting your home on the vacation rental market can make the cost of a second home more affordable.

Deep Creek vacation rental owners want to be sure their home rents well. There are important things to know so that you can maximize your income. Things like location, amenities and size should play a key role in the decision making process.

Invest in the Right Amenities

Speaking of amenities, we have done the research for you so that you know exactly what vacationers are looking for. We analyzed searches performed on our website during a six month timeframe and determined that hot tubs, WiFi and air conditioning are the most popular among our guests.

Hot Tubs are the #1 requested amenity. 15% of searches include this year round feature, and it is the reason many choose a particular property.

Wifi is a necessity for today’s traveler. It is looked at as a “utility” like electricity. Guests need to stay connected to work, social media and more.

Air Conditioning is also an expectation for many people. If you cannot get central AC, consider split systems or standing units for upper level bedrooms that tend to get hot.

Pool Tables give guests an option for indoor entertainment and are popular with both families and groups of couples staying together.

Private Pools are well worth the investment if you have the space to add one. Indoor pools have an especially good return on investment since they can be used no matter what the weather.

Outdoor firepits/places are a way to expand gathering space and have become sought after. You can go from basic to elaborate – basic will get the rental, elaborate will bring them back.

Community Pools are something to consider if you are buying a home. Communities like Blakeslee, Ski Harbor, Sunplace and DC Highlands are popular because of their pools. Continue reading Top Tips for Deep Creek Vacation Rental Owners

Deep Creek Lake Hot Tubs Sales & Service

We’re excited to announce that we are now part of the Sundance Spas® family! We recently launched a hot tub sales division to serve home owners at Deep Creek Lake as well as residents of the surrounding tri-state area.

As an authorized dealer of Sundance Spas®, we can easily help you determine which hot tub model best fits your needs and budget. Our team is certified to provide service for Sundance Spas products too.
Right now we’re offering exceptional introductory rates, so it’s the perfect time to buy to get the best price.

Working with Sundance Spas®, the world’s largest manufacturer and distributer of acrylic spas, was a natural choice for us. With a vast selection and superior product, we can serve Deep Creek Lake vacation rental home owners as well as those looking for a spa for their private residence.

HOT TUBS FOR DEEP CREEK LAKE VACATION RENTALS
Deep Creek Lake hot tubs are a popular amenity in vacation rental properties. They are often requested by guests and can help increase your rental income. Certain models are better suited for vacation rental homes than others. Continue reading Deep Creek Lake Hot Tubs Sales & Service

An Exciting Announcement from Our Deep Creek Real Estate Team!

New Owners of Taylor-Made Real Estate — Standing: Jay Ferguson, Joe Refosco, Chad Taylor Seated: Jodi Taylor Refosco, Betsy Spiker Holcomb

There has been a whirlwind of enthusiasm swirling around the Taylor-Made offices these days! The obvious being the snowfall we received this week and that Wisp is now ready to handle the many skiing enthusiasts that are joining us in the mountains this weekend! Not only does Wisp have a bevy of fun filled activities going on, it’s also the perfect time to go hiking in the numerous State Parks in our area! We are looking forward to greeting our guests and helping them plan an adventurous weekend!

Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales is also very excited and pleased to welcome Betsy Spiker Holcomb as the co-owner of our Deep Creek Real Estate Division. Betsy, who was born and raised in Garrett County, brings a vast knowledge of Garrett County and an extensive background of Real Estate experience with her.

Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations hit a milestone in 2014 with the expansion of a new Real Estate Division to the company. Acknowledging that a large portion of vacation rental homes were on the real estate market, it seemed only sensible to create a “one stop shop” for both buyers and sellers to handle all of their real estate and property management needs. Proudly welcoming well known Real Estate Agent & Sales Broker Jay Ferguson as co-owner, this vision quickly came to fruition. The company has continued to thrive and the Real Estate Team was proud to say that by the end of 2015, over 55 homes were sold with $16 million in volume.

Recently, Betsy made the choice to become co-owner of the Taylor Made Real Estate Company. Jay stated, “I am thrilled to add Betsy to our Taylor-Made family. It’s incredibly rare to add an agent with such an established brand and with such vast experience, let alone her production in our market. Perhaps the most impressive to me is her hands-on involvement in our community and her commitment to excellence.” Betsy, we warmly welcome you to the Taylor-Made Family!

Soups On! Who’s Hungry?

Taylor-Made 5th Annual Soup Cook Off

Yesterday was Earth Day. Mother Nature played a little surprise trick on us by decorating our mountain tops with some fresh fluffy snow. Just another part of the adventure of mountain living! Speaking of which, our spring generally comes a little later than most places but the reawakening has started and we are so excited. Buds are forming on trees, the grass is getting darker and brighter, and the wildlife is starting to come out and play! Now is the perfect time to get away for the weekend and come to Deep Creek to play. Our local golf courses are open and Wisp is still running the mountain coaster (a single ride coaster that winds down the mountain and you can control the speed. So much fun and a Must-Try!) Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales is offering some fabulous last minute discounts! Give us a call and let us help you find that perfect vacation home for you and your family (1-800-851-1119 or online www.deepcreekvacatons.com).
Today marks an important day in the Taylor-Made world as we held our 5^thAnnual Company Soup Cook Off! This is where we call on all Taylor-Made employees to show off their culinary skills by bringing in their favorite soup in an attempt to win the coveted title of Soup Cook Off Champ! Over the years, we have seen many different soups from Jambalayas, Seafood Bisques, Veggie, Chili, etc. Basically if it can be made in soup form, it was at some point entered into the contest. The one conclusion we come to each year is this: our employees have some mad cooking skills! Each year we pick our “Celebrity Deep Creek Judges” who are responsible for judging each soup and rating them accordingly. They must then get together and judge who the real winner is going to be. Not an easy task for any man, I can assure you of that. This year our grand prize when to Chris R in Reservations for her entry of Creamy Crab Soup. This was followed up with 2^nd prize to Rita in Accounting for Potato Bacon & Tied for third, Jason and Heather from Housekeeping/ Laundry with their soup entries of Mexican Tortilla and White Chicken Chili!

Winners!

It’s also just a fun way to take time away from the usual hustle and bustle of a daily schedule to mix and mingle with coworkers. We love it when all of our departments can take a short time out to get together and enjoy each other’s company. (Throw in yummy food and it’s a win-win for everyone!) A great deal of fun was had by all and a huge thank you to all who participated, both by entering and judging!)

Signs of Spring!

Have we mentioned that now is the ideal time to plan a short getaway? So close to Pittsburgh, Washington D.C. & the surrounding areas, why not just take advantage of some awesome deals, pack up the car, & in just a few short hours spend an amazing weekend resting and relaxing with your favorite people! We can’t wait to see you at the lake! #deepcreeklake #taylormadevacatonrentals #springfling