Outer Banks Vacation Homes

Thanks to the diligent efforts of Monica, Elaine, and many of our staff members, a new guest newspaper has been developed and will be distributed to everyone checking in this rental season.  It has eight full-color information packed pages of topics that will assist the guests from the time they arrive on the Outer Banks to when they leave us to go home.  They will have the answers to all of their typically asked questions, from how to stay safe in our waters to where to eat, shop and play.  They will have at their fingertips listings galore including all Outer Banks beach accesses, lifeguard stations, ferry schedules, church directories, emergency numbers and more.  The newspaper details check in and check out procedures, trash disposal, telephone dialing instructions as well as bonfire, fireworks, and off-road vehicle restrictions.  There is also a beautifully designed, fully detailed area map highlighting some of the Outer Bank’s points of interest.  The newspaper is chalk full of color pictures exemplifying the pure joy of just being at the beach.  The layout is extremely inviting to the eye and each section is wonderfully written.  It is the most comprehensive source of all the information a guest would need to have at hand to fully enjoy their vacation rental home and the resort environment.  In addition, it can inform the consumer on how to go from being a guest to a property owner on the Outer Banks in seven, easy steps!

Although we receive many compliments on how wonderful our web site is at Carolina Designs Realty, it’s always a great idea to expose your vacation rental home on the Outer Banks in more than one way, as the Internet is becoming more and more popular in searching for the perfect vacation rental home.  Carolina Designs realizes this new trend and has placed banner ads on such web sites as www.how2vacation.com, www.outerbankschamber.com and www.outerbanks-vacations.com in order to generate more leads to our own web site.
 

A number of our homeowners have created their own web pages and are marketing their vacation rental home on-line using various web sites.  On many of these search engines, you have the option of creating your own web page or having them create a page for you, which can then link to your personal web site or to the Carolina Designs Realty web site.  Each of these sites has it’s own rates and rules, so be sure to read each policy thoroughly.  You may want to consider endorsements or testimonials provided from other vacation rental home owners and/or one that focuses on the specific area on the Outer Banks where your home is located when deciding the best site to use.
 

Remember to visit www.boldprintdesign.com/rentalhomewebs.html if you need further information on creating your own personal web site through Bold Print Design Studio.

The communications system in place for our guests to make long distance phone calls from our vacation rental homes, Navis Technologies, also provides a valuable service to our guests and homeowners.  With the help of our very able technical staff to program the property management system, we are able to send messages to mass quantities of residences.  This system was used to inform our guests and homeowners about our status during major hurricanes.  We are able to advise our guests of their check in location and time of arrival.  The program can send a message to notify customers having a remaining outstanding balance to be paid.  We can send a message to each vacation rental home advising when trash pick up day is scheduled.  These are but a few of the reasons why a universal message would be sent to a large number of people.  The system is available for our use via the Internet.  With a simple click of the mouse, a file containing literally hundreds of telephone numbers can be uploaded and the message can be sent in minutes.  For a vacation property management company, this kind of system has proved to be an essential communication tool.  We are pleased to have this system in place and continually find new uses for its service.  Special thanks to our technical staff for their ability to make the most of such a useful program!

The Federal Communications Commission assigned 511 for nationwide access to travel information services. 511 is an abbreviated dialing code for travelers to access highway, multi-modal, and other pertinent travel information via landline or wireless phones.

By collecting travel information, NCDOT is able to disseminate information to the public, the users of the NCDOT highway system, to assist in the safe and efficient movement of people and goods. By giving the public access to travel information like construction, incidents, traffic, and transit, the public can make educated decisions about travel times, routes, and modes.

Travel information is currently disseminated to the public using venues such as Highway Advisory Radio, Dynamic Message Signs, and on the NC Smartlink website. The North Carolina 511 system is part of a nationwide effort to disseminate travel information to the public via another venue, the telephone.

Members from our reservations and maintenance staff attended a seminar recently that was geared to teach the basic essentials of superior customer service.

The Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce, the Outer Banks Association of Realtors, College of the Albemarle’s Dare Campus and Small Business Center, the Outer Banks Hotel Motel Association, and the Dare County Restaurant Association sponsored the seminar.  The presenter, Carol Hartman, a business consultant, professional business and life coach with 31 years of experience, focused on how to avoid the pitfalls of poor service, being an integral part of a successful service team and how to deal with difficult situations by solving problems while keeping your cool.

The elements discussed in this program are important tools used in delivering the quality of service that Carolina Designs Realty stands behind.  All communication delivered by a staff member, whether it is a guest, an owner or a vendor, portrays our company as a whole.  Training in this area is vital to assure that employees are equipped to handle the diverse and discerning characteristics of all that we serve.

In summary from an article written in The Virginian-Pilot Coast, May 5-12, 2006 edition in the Outer Banks Living section, With Tough Travel Conditions, Rentals Look Strong, the industry is faced with the nationwide average price of a gallon of gasoline escalading to $1 more than at this time a year ago.  Despite the rise in fuel costs, the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau estimates that the Outer Banks of North Carolina will still accommodate approximately 3 million vacationers from Hatteras to Corolla as well as another 2 million more during the end of summer/fall season.  94% of the visitors will drive here and 70% travel from the East Coast and Midwest.

Based on last year’s calculations, $61 per person per night will be spent for housing, meals, entertainment, shopping and transportation.  56% of this total will go toward lodging.  With over 14,000 vacation homes here on the Outer Banks, it is the lifeblood of the local economy.  Older vacation rental homes are being renovated, enlarged and updated to remain competitive with the requirements to make it in the rental market of today.  On average, we have more confirmed rentals this year than we did this time last year with 75-80% of the weeks booked ‘In-Season’.

Soon there will be more choices for grocery shopping on the Outer Banks!  Harris Teeter, an upscale, full service food store with operations in 6 states on the east coast has expanded to the Outer Banks with stores in Corolla and Kill Devil Hills.  The construction will soon be completed for a 48,910 sq. ft. Harris Teeter grocery store as well as an 8,400 sq. ft. building for retail and business offices on an 8.2 acre site located on the north side of the entrance of the Currituck Club. The complex is expected to open in the Spring of 2006, employing 266 associates.

Another 53,264 sq. ft. Harris Teeter grocery store located on a 7.81 acre site just north of Eckerd Drug Store on US Route 158 is being constructed in the town of Kill Devil Hills.  The store is also scheduled to open in the Spring of 2006, employing 175 associates.

Mary Griffin Holian O’Neill 

As most of you already know, Carolina Designs Realty regrettably announces the passing of Mary Griffin Holian O’Neill on May 8, 2006 due to a massive stroke.  We are all deeply shocked and saddened; it is hard to imagine life without Mary.
 

Mary was very loved and was an inspiration to us all.  Since the ‘80’s, Mary was instrumental in molding our company into becoming a top competitor in the management of elite vacation rental homes offered on the Outer Banks today.  When Mary started working for the company, the reservations were tracked on cardboard.  Through her dedication and hard work, the company has become what we know it to be today.  Mary loved her job, and would even spend her days off working by making suggestions for improvements to owners.  She had an eye for quality and how to achieve it.
 

Yes, they broke the mold when they made Mary O’Neill.  We honor Mary for all that she brought to the company and for all that she meant to each one of us.  We love you, Mary, and you will be dearly missed!  

A special section of Philadelphia Magazine entitled Spring Travel: You Can Take Them With You, focused on family getaways.  The article that was written by Sandra Pilla, Go With The Gang, featured four places that would delight every member of the party and accommodate large groups.  The second place mentioned, Beach Manse in The Outer Banks, described one of Carolina Designs Realty’s vacation rental homes, #521, Renaissance, in detail.  Located in Nags Head, the beauty and elegance of this vacation rental home was captured including mention of the ocean dunes and sunsets.  Amenities such as the deck views, private pool, hot tub, billiard room, home theater, fully equipped kitchen, and elevator was duly noted.

The article brought great exposure to the vacation rental home, the Outer Banks of North Carolina and especially to Carolina Designs Realty as we are listed as the contact to reserve the vacation rental home with our toll free number.