Outer Banks Vacation Homes

Monica Thibodeau, Randy Gilbreath, Michelle Layne, Samantha Chappell, Amanda Perry, and Cherylyn Burns attended the 25th Annual Vacation Rental Manager’s Association (VRMA) Annual Conference and Showcase Overview in Washington, DC during the week of October 24th, 2009.

Since 1985, membership to VRMA, a professional trade association for the vacation property management industry, indicates that the vacation rental company aspires to a Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice and continues to learn the latest trends and developments in the industry. Consumers regard the VRMA logo as an indication of the professional management of vacation rental properties.

VRMA hosts both owners and managers of vacation rental management companies as well as suppliers throughout the United States. Attendees may choose both general sessions and/or smaller workshops to discuss pertinent information affecting vacation rental management and operation. In addition, suppliers to the industry are available to demonstrate the latest products and services.

The opportunities for learning, networking and improving existing operations are endless here.  Everyone involved has the same focus, which is very refreshing.  This venue is well worth the trip.

Turn down Soundside Road in Nags Head just south of the Jockey’s Ridge State Park.  The road runs to the sound and there is a rear entrance to Jockey’s Ridge with a parking lot and sound access.
There is sound side gazebo at Windgrass with great sunset views, at the end of Tateway Street in Kitty Hawk. Turn west on Tateway at Gateway Bank and turn right on Windgrass. The water is very shallow to wade or play in and there is a great walking path as well.
A public gazebo sits just north of Miller’s Sound side restaurant in Nags Head. It is south of old Windmill Point and north of Miller’s with its own parking lot. Great place to launch a kayak!

Our guests have always been able to protect their vacation investment by electing to accept optional travel insurance, offered with any reservation through Carolina Designs Realty. Travel Guard, our selected provider, now offers even better coverage if and when the unexpected happens.
By enhancing the standard coverage for mandatory hurricane evacuations, sickness, injury or death, the new plan includes coverage for  inclement weather; military duty; employer terminations; layoffs or job transfers; travel delays and mechanical breakdown.
Reimbursements are also included for trip delays, lost baggage and medical expenses.
A 24-Hour Emergency Hotline provides immediate assistance  with any travel or medical emergency.
Additional perks of the plan include:
*  Concierge Services
*  Identity Theft Assistance
*  Pet Return Service
*  Roadside Assistance
*  Vehicle Return Assistance
Our guests may enjoy more coverage than ever with more peace of mind for their vacation investment.

2010 Vacation Rental Agreements were mailed on November 2nd. To secure the  reservation, the first payment is due by November 12th.  If we have not heard from the guest by November 16th, the reservation will be automatically cancelled and the week will become available to any guests on the waiting list or the general public.

All reservations made after November 3rd will require the first payment within five days. Guests may view their lease from our website, or have the information emailed, faxed or mailed.  Payments can be made via credit card or ACH online, paper check or by calling us to take a payment over the phone.

To search for a vacation rental home on our web site, simply enter the criteria in our basis or advance search from the home page of our web site, www.CarolinaDesigns.com.  You can enter general search criteria or get as detailed as you desire on our advance search engine.  If you need any assistance in finding the perfect vacation destination, call 800.368.3825 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Carolina Designs Realty is pleased to announce Monica Thibodeau, our Principal Broker and Owner, was elected to serve another term as a Council Member for the Town of Duck.

A vacationer to the Outer Banks since the early 70s, Monica has been a permanent resident of Duck for 20+ years.

Monica currently serves as President for the Outer Banks Association of Realtors as well as Town Council liason for the Duck Community and Business Alliance.

To provide convenient, online service for our valued guests, our technical staff implemented the Guest Services section of our web site for guests to be able to view their lease information and make payments via MasterCard, Visa, Discover or ACH transactions.

Our payment program will now provide even more financial flexibility as we have added the ability to pay using American Express credit cards.

We are meeting the needs of our target consumers as well as remaining on the competitive edge of our industry.

Outer Banks Association of REALTORS^® held a Surf Fishing Scholarship Tournament on Friday, October 23, 2009 beginning at 7 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m.   Carolina Designs Realty employees, Jessica Winstead, Richard Rostant, Andy Dagen, Meredith Olinger, and Nick Cianfrini were participants in the tournament.

According to Dorothy Toolan of Dare County Public Relations Federal Highway Administration designated the Outer Banks as one of America’s distinctive and diverse byways this month.

It follows North Carolina’s northern coastline as it juts east into the Atlantic Ocean.  Byway visitors travel a route that traverses Bodie and Hatteras islands in Dare County, Ocracoke Island in Hyde County and Down East in Carteret County.

Boards of Commissioners in Dare, Hyde and Carteret counties nominated the state-designated byway for national status in December 2008.

The Federal Highway Administration’s National Scenic Byways Program recognizes roadways that have outstanding scenic, historic, cultural, natural, recreational and archaeological qualities.

The Outer Banks National Scenic Byway’s nomination highlights the unique maritime culture shared by 21 coastal villages that dot the byway route. That culture, says the nomination, is intimately linked to the byway’s natural world of barrier islands, capes and shallow sounds as well as nationally significant historic places.

The Outer Banks Bike Fest was held on October 2-4, 2009 at Kitty Hawk Harley Davidson in Harbinger, North Carolina.  The happening featured a Bike Show, Poker Run, Guided Tours and much more.  Carolina Designs Realty was one of the many proud sponsors for this event.

Put on your calendar the 7th Annual Outer Banks Bike Week™ , also known as the premier rally on the East Coast, will be a full Sunday to Sunday, April 18-25, in 2010.  There will be more vendors and events to fill up an entire week.  This rally is going to be BIG! Many riders have decided to forego the hassles of Myrtle Beach and opt to spend their time and money in the Outer Banks where they’re welcomed by all the towns and locals in the area.

Our staff at Carolina Designs Realty accommodates families from all over for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Our homes are chosen for this special occasion because these gatherings need the space to accommodate extended family members in eight or more bedroom.  In our extensive inventory, these vacation rental homes tend to have large, fully stocked kitchens, many times with double appliances and all the equipment needed for big family retreats.  These homes are inspected thoroughly far in advance of the arrival date to insure that the kitchens are well equipped and the appliances are in proper working order. 

We look forward to your stay with us during this special holiday.  Best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving on the Outer Banks!