vacation rental management Archives - Deep Creek Lake Vacations Blog

November 22, 2019March 30, 2022

Black Friday Guide for Home Owners from Taylor-Made

Black Friday and Cyber Monday present an excellent opportunity for vacation rental owners. You can redecorate a room or upgrade electronics for a fraction of the regular cost.

We put together a guide with some of the best deals of the season along with retailers who typically release significant savings.

Black Friday Redecorating Opportunities

Keep an eye out for sales on furniture and bedding. If you are not sure where to start, here are a few suggestions of items that will attract and retain guests:

-Replace bedding and get a set that has matching pillow shams
-Create a sitting area in your master suite by adding a cozy chair and end table
-Don’t forget about your outdoor living space! Update resin (plastic) deck furniture with higher quality options.
-Update mattresses
-Modernize your window treatments by replacing vertical or venetian blinds with wooden blinds or curtains.

Redecorating Deals

Wayfair – Up to 80% Off!

West Elm – Buy More, Save More Event – Lighting, Furniture, Wall Art, Pillows, Rugs & More

Crate and Barrel – 20-30% Off Site Wide

November 16, 2018March 30, 2022

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.”

June 19, 2018March 30, 2022

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”

April 24, 2018March 30, 2022

Vacation Rental Design Tips

Vacation rental design can have a big impact on your bottom line. Whether you are furnishing a new home or refreshing your current rental property, it can be a challenging task to tackle on your own.

vacation rental design

Vacation rental design Guide

We put together this vacation rental design guide to give you a good understanding of how to get the most “bang for your buck”. Smart investments in your home can put you on the right track to get more reservations and guests who return year-after-year.

Even if you think of yourself as someone with good taste, it is always good to get another point of view. Our team can help you make good choices. You can also enlist a friend to give you an objective opinion or suggestions.

Continue reading “Vacation Rental Design Tips”

March 7, 2018March 30, 2022

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”

November 17, 2017March 30, 2022

Deep Creek Vacation Rental Market Update

Deep Creek Vacation Rental Market Update

For Taylor-Made owners, the Deep Creek Lake vacation rental market is experiencing an excellent first quarter for the 2018 fiscal year. It has been exciting to see the growth in the variety of vacation rentals available to vacationers in recent years.

Summer is always a popular time to visit, and our occupancy levels were 39% more than in 2016. Fall travel to the area is also on the rise. By mid summer, our September 2017 reservations were already 9% ahead of last year, and we finished that month with an overall 14% increase in stays.

Aggressive marketing, that includes distribution of Taylor-Made homes on Booking.com and Air BNB, coupled with the post-Labor Day start for Maryland schools contributed to driving more reservations during this time.

Because of the later start for MD schools, we tested out extending prime summer season rates by one week. There was no negative impact, so we will continue with this to maximize owner revenue.

Over the years, we have shifted our focus to more online channels. They are more easily trackable. That gives us a better idea of where marketing dollars are best spent in order to benefit our home owners.

“We appreciate all of your efforts to market our property Ski Shore. 2017 has had the highest rental income we have had in 19 years.” ~ Ski Shore Owners

Continue reading “Deep Creek Vacation Rental Market Update”

September 29, 2017March 30, 2022

VRMA has a New President Elect!

The Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA) has a new President-Elect – our very own Jodi Taylor Refosco!

Jodi started Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales in 2008 with her husband, Joe, and her brother, Chad. Since then, we have added a real estate division and have become the largest vacation rental manager at Deep Creek Lake.

With twenty years of experience, she knows the vacation rental industry inside and out. Currently, she supervises the reservations, owner relations and marketing departments along with bringing on new home owners. Continue reading “VRMA has a New President Elect!”

May 26, 2017March 30, 2022

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”