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.

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.

Tom Dean, husband of Sally Markam, a Realtor® at Carolina Designs Realty, is hosting an Artist’s Reception along with Artist Gary Colson on October 16^th from 4 – 6:00 p.m. at Glenn Eure’s Gallery located on Gallery Row at Milepost 10.5 in Nags Head. 

Glenn Eure’s Ghost Fleet Gallery offers a variety of art displays and products by the talented Glenn Eure, including paintings, collagraphs, drawings, and woodblock prints.  Their exhibition will be on display beginning September 28^th until October 28^th .

For more information, call 252.441.6584.

“Our family tradition started in Duck in 1988 with my parents re-starting the “family vacation” with their three recently “20-something” children and spouses.  Then when children came along over the next few years, our need for a larger and more “equipped” house led us to Carolina Designs. We grew quickly to trust their selection of homes as being of quality standard with us enjoying a clean and functional home the minute we arrived. When any inconveniences arise as with any home, their customer service is responsive and professional. Our return for many years to our current rental house are the great memories we have had and with my father’s death a few years ago, the house rekindles memories of him and his love of the family vacation. 

Our only challenge that will arise is when our next generation of children reaches their 20-something years and whether we further grow into one larger Carolina Designs house or three homes. Either way, I have comfort that Carolina Designs will be there to meet that challenge and provide the continuum of great family memories for generations to come.”
 

Anne Marie

New Brunswick, NJ

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1.                 Cannon Beach, Oregon
2.                 Tulum, Mexico
3.                 Placencia, Belize
4.                 Morro de Sao Paulo, Brazil
5.                 Negril, Jamaica
6.                 Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
7.                 Cape Ann, Massachusetts
8.                 Huntington Beach, California
 

9. Outer Banks, North Carolina
”Lining the North Carolina coast, the Outer Banks consists of barriers of sand 150 miles long and never more than a few miles wide. These islands serve as welcome mats to the Atlantic and all her treasures. Forage the sea for a bounty of bluefish, flounder, and drum, or walk the wild dunes, a naturalist’s playground. Close to 400 species of birds, from native Carolina wrens to wintering bald eagles, can be found here, along with otters and sea turtle colonies. Add four lighthouses and you have yourself a seaworthy destination that even a pirate like Blackbeard (a former resident) could call home. Landlubbers will want to visit Kitty Hawk, the site where Orville and Wilbur Wright learned how to fly, and the newly renovated North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island.”
 

10.               Destin, Florida
 

“In these tough times, people tend to forget that it is possible to take a beach vacation without spending your life savings,” says Eric Brodnax, general manager of Away.com. “But it’s easy, and it all begins with picking a destination a bit off the beaten path.”

ABOUT AWAY.COM
Away.com, a part of The Away Network, is the leading online destination for travelers planning their next vacation.  Trip planners will find over two million pages of travel inspiration, trip ideas, and travel planning tools and content for over 35,000 destinations.  Based in Washington, DC, and founded in 1999, Away.com provides a distinctive blend of expert and consumer advice.  The Away Network also includes Trip.com, GORP.com, GORPtravel.com, and Outside Online.

The Outer Banks Vacation Home Wizard is back and better than ever helping guests far and wide 24/7 search in style, and at their convenience, for their perfect vacation destination for 2010.  Guests may narrow their search in every way possible:
• Arrival Day
• Arrival Date
• Number of Bedrooms
• Area
• Private Pool
• Subdivision Pool
• Tennis
• Pet-friendly House
• Oceanfront
• Hot Tub
• Elevator
• Allow Special Events
Our guests can pre-reserve right on-line and make payments as well.
For all guests that have already pre-reserved to-date, we will send a letter detailing the advance reservation policy and request a fee to hold the property until the leases are sent and the first half deposit confirms their reservation.

 “First and foremost thank you so much for your excellent customer service and kindness when it comes to dealing with your customers. Never in 3 years have I had a bad experience, your representatives are always very friendly, courteous and kind.

We checked into #618 on June 6th, we loved the house, we had 3 family groups and 6 kids ranging from 4 months to 13 and we found that house to be excellently furnished, accommodating and exactly what we had hoped for. Sunday after check in is when we found that our home had a termite issue and one of the bedrooms had holes in the wall where the termites were coming through. Thank you for very promptly identifying this problem and sending an exterminator. We do appreciate it.

I just want you to know that while we may have had different opinions about whether we should or should not have stayed at that property, we greatly appreciate you moving us to property #341 The Mainsail. For our family’s health and safety we felt it was best to leave that house and we sincerely appreciate you accommodating that request.

Everyone my husband and I spoke to- customer service, maintenance, house keeping - was more than professional and understanding during these circumstances and Carolina Designs should be proud of that. We have dealt with two other rental companies in the past and neither could even touch your level of customer service and overall great people skills.

The Mainsail property was great, and we couldn’t have been happier to move, even though it was a bit tedious. The house was beautiful, pool area very nice and location couldn’t have been better.

We just wanted to extend our deep thank you for making our vacation a great one and we will definitely be reserving for fall 2009 and summer 2010 with you soon.”

Sincerely,

Steve and Jennifer

Toledo, OH

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Dr. Beach declares once again Outer Banks as one of
AMERICA‘S BEST BEACHES 2009
 

Outer Banks makes the Top 10 list again:  http://www.drbeach.org/drbeach/

1.                    Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii
2.                    Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Florida
3.                    Coopers Beach, Southhampton, New York
4.                    Coronado Beach, San Diego, California
5.                    Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii
6.                    Main Beach, East Hampton, New York
 

7.                  Cape Hatteras, Outer Banks, North Carolina

“Bulging far offshore of the mainland coast as a barrier island, Cape Hatteras was the first National Seashore.  Providing some of the best board surfing along the East Coast, as well as the most famous lighthouse in the United States, Cape Hatteras attracts beachgoers to its historic fishing villages.  Nature lovers adore the excellent beachcombing and superb fishing.”
 

8.             Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Florida
9.             Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
10.           Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina
 

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