Blog

Rental Property Management Charleston |You’ve come to a point in your life where you need a house. Maybe you’re moving to a new town and feel ready for an upgrade, or your family is growing, and you need extra space. Whatever your reason for wanting to live in a house, you are going to have a big decision to make—should you rent or buy your home? There are advantages to both options, but you may be surprised at how easy renting a house is when you have a property manager.

Pros and Cons of Buying Vs. Renting 

Many people want to purchase a home because they are paying money towards an investment that belongs to them, unlike when you’re paying rent. Owning a home also means you only have to abide by your own rules (and those of your homeowner’s association if you have one). Owning your property means you can paint the walls any color you want, knock down a wall if you want more space, add on a deck without asking for permission, and whatever else your heart fancies.

Buying a home can be expensive though. Not only do you need to have excellent credit, but you must also have a substantial down payment and money saved up for closing costs, inspections, and other fees. You’ll also need to have plenty of money saved up for other expenses that homes incur such as significant home maintenance. When you choose to rent through a property manager, all you’ll need is a deposit and rent payment up front which is usually thousands of dollars cheaper than closing costs and inspections.

Even if the money is no issue, owning a home can still be difficult when you are responsible for everything that happens, or any maintenance needed. When you rent your home, a property manager takes care of all those headaches for you. You also have the luxury of being able to move when your lease is up when you are renting whereas when you own a home, most people need to sell first which can take months and even years. The property manager of your home is the only one that needs to be worried about that home when you want to move on.

Choose a property manager from Scott Propertiesto help you find the perfect home for rent in Charleston.

Property Manager | Charleston, South Carolina is one of the most iconic cities in the United States. The city is a blend of southern charm and coastal elegance which creates an atmosphere that no other cities can match. During the summertime Charleston buzzes with excitement and welcomes tourists from all over the world which can sometimes make finding a suitable home rental difficult, especially if you want to live near the beach. This is why renting with a property manager is always a great idea in Charleston. Follow our other tips and tricks for moving to Charleston in the summer to be prepared for your big move.

1. Plan Ahead-Summer is the busiest time for moving anywhere, but especially in Charleston where people often rent a house for months or half the year at a time. There are a lot of summer houses available in Charleston but finding the perfect home for long term rental can sometimes be challenging. As soon as you know you are moving to Charleston, you should start looking for a reliable property manager who can help you secure a rental ahead of time.

2. Research the Area-When you are looking for homes for rent in Charleston you need to research the area where the homes you are interested are located. Because Charleston is a prime tourism spot, there are a lot of houses that are offered as short-term rentals through sites like Air B n B. If you prefer to live somewhere you won’t have revolving neighbors, make sure your property manager knows you want to live in a residential neighborhood with established homeowners.

3. Avoid Moving During Peak Times-Labor Day Weekend, Fourth of July Weekend, and Memorial Day weekend is the most popular time to move during the summer because most people have a three-day weekend and are off work. The first and last weekends of the month are also busy as this is when leases typically end. Moving during the week can get you discounts on moving trucks and movers sometimes too!

If you are ready to start working with a property manager to find your dream home in Charleston, contact Scott Properties today!

Charleston Property Management | Your days of spending summers on the beaches of Charleston are long gone, and you’re in a position to decide what you should do with your summer beach house. You could sell it and make a decent amount of money, but you’ve also thought of holding onto the property and renting it as a single-family home to make some residual income in retirement. Charleston property management can help make this decision super easy for you.

Benefits of Having Charleston Property Management

You’ve probably already considered how the extra income from rent and the tax credits can help your nest egg for retirement, but you’ve probably also realized the disadvantages of becoming a landlord. You don’t really want to have to book appointments all day to show the house, especially if you aren’t living in South Carolina anymore. You also don’t want to have to be at your tenant’s beck and call when they have a maintenance emergency. Collecting on late rent is also a huge hassle, and you might be thinking the few extra thousand a few may not be worth it. Charleston property management can change your mind.

When you choose Charleston property management to manage your rental home, you don’t have to worry about the tedious day-to-day tasks associated with being a landlord. At Scott properties, our property managers have the know how to market your property quickly and effectively to ensure you have the best tenants for your property.

Using Charleston property management companies are super easy because all you have to do as a homeowner is pay one monthly fee and we will take care of all your tenant and property needs. You don’t have to worry about any of the little stuff, and if something big needs your attention, you can rest assured that your Charleston property management team is ready to support you.

Contact us today at Scott Properties to discuss how we can help you make income off your beach house!

Charleston Property Management | Your tenant has moved out, and you’ve done the major work of repairing any damages left behind, repainting, and cleaning so that the home looks new again, but you may still have trouble renting it if all your prospective tenants see new carpet and freshly painted walls when you’re between renters and taking applications for your rental home use these tips from the best Charleston property management companies on how to make your home wow your tenants.

1. Stage Furniture-One of the best ways to make a house feel like a home is to stage furniture. Outfit at least one of the bedrooms with a bed, dresser, and end table. Put a sofa and coffee table in the living room and set up dining set in the dining room. Give your guests a visual so that they can easily imagine what their furniture would look like in the space. Charleston property management companies even suggest staging photographs of landscapes or animals, adding decorative pillows, having vases with flowers, and other small touches to make tenants feel welcome.
2. Make it Smell Good-No one wants to live in a home that stinks. Use air fresheners or diffuse oils or incense that smells calming and comforting such as cotton, fresh air, lavender, chamomile, or light citrus to help bring a little excitement. Baking smells are also a great scent to use when showing a home.
3. Dust Before You Show-Even if the cleaning crew had done a detailed clean already, the day or morning before showing the home you should go back through and dust, wipe down mirrors and check for fingerprints on the appliances. You want your prospective tenants to feel like they are the first ones living in their dream home.

One of the best tips for renting between tenants is to hire a Charleston property management company to manage your rental home and ensure that you have quality tenants who rent for the long term and love your home as much as you do. Give Scott Properties a call when you are ready to work with the best property managers in South Carolina.

As a property manager, one application process you are in charge of is checking references for previous landlords. Checking these references is one task you never want to skip because references tell you vital information about your prospective tenant that may not show up on the background or credit check. If previous landlords didn’t report to the credit bureau or sue the tenant, you might not ever know if they paid rent on time or if they damaged the property. Many tenants who have had problems with landlords or a property manager in the past will ask their friends or family to provide false references, pretending to be a previous landlord. You can easily spot these fakers by following these tips:

1. Don’t tell them who you are. If you call asking for Joe Smith and they ask who you are, don’t say that you’re a property manager calling about a reference. You want to catch the imposter off guard by pretending to be a renter yourself. Inquire about available homes for rent, and if the landlord begins to humble over their words or suddenly hangs up, you know you’ve got a false reference.

2. When you ask questions about the tenant, the landlord should be able to give you details about that person including how long they lived at the address provided if they paid on time, and other details. If the “landlord” is vague or tells you, they can’t remember, these can be red flags for false references.

3. Search for the “landlord” online. If this person is a legitimate landlord, you should be able to find their name and phone number linked to rental properties or a property management company. You can also search the name on social media and see if they seem to be linked to the tenant such as being Facebook friends or listing each other as family. These are huge red flags for false references.

Taking the time to go through dozens of references every time you have a new property for rent can be tedious and exhausting. Consider hiring a property manager from Scott Properties to help you manage your rental home efficiently and with great return on investment.

Property Manager |Tenants have hundreds of excuses for why they can’t pay rent or can only make a partial payment. When you only accept cash, check, or money order for rent payments tenants find it easy to try to haggle their way into an extension on rent. When you accept online rent payments from tenants, they start to run out of excuses for why they can’t pay rent on time. There are certain excuses that online portals help to squash.

1. Money Related Excuses-Tenants will tell you dozens of different stories about why they didn’t have the money for rent. From other bills being too high to a child or family member falling ill, or the government being late on payments, a tenant that doesn’t have the money will want you to empathize. Online portals help tenants to manage their money better because they can make small payments throughout the month to try to get ahead after their rent is paid and they can track their rent through their online account.

2. Transportation-Related Excuses-The check got lost in the mail. The money order got wet in the mailbox. My car broke down, and I couldn’t’t make it into the office. It’s snowing outside, and the roads are bad. Tenants who rely on someone physically taking their rent payment to another location can always use transportation as an excuse. Online rent payments make it easy for tenants to pay from the comfort of their home or even from their phone while on the go.

3. Confusion on Due Dates-Some tenants will tell a property manager that the reason they are late on rent is that they were confused on the due dates, rent amount, or any other fees that they owe. This is a common excuse for new tenants especially. Online rental portals can send reminders to tenants about when rent is due and how much the tenant owes. Paying rent online and having a tenant account eliminates confusion on the details of rent.

If you are ready to take your rental property business to a new level with a property manager that can manage rentals contact Scott Properties.

When a property manager is showing homes, they need to be prepared to answer common questions that prospective tenants will have regarding the property and the property manager business. When you can’t answer common questions, tenants have their trust in your property management company drops. Before you show another rental home make sure you can answer the following questions:

1. What is the rent, deposit, pet deposit, and application fees?

2. What lease terms do you offer? Can I get a discount for signing a longer lease?

3. What is your pet policy?

4. What do you look for on the application? How are tenants screened?

5. When is the soonest available move in date?

6. How many other applications do you have for this home?

7. What is your subleasing policy? What happens if I have to move for my job?

8. Can I list my home on Air BNB when I am not staying there?

9. What happens if we need to break our lease?

10. After my lease do I renew or go month to month?

11. Do you give notice before entering the home after I move in?

12. Is off-street parking available? What are the parking arrangements?

13. What is the crime rate in the area? Has a crime ever been committed in this home?

14. Can I paint, put up shelves or hang artwork inside the home?

15. Are any utilities included?

16. Who is responsible for lawn care and snow removal?

17. How much notice do we need to give if we do not want to renew our lease?

18. Can I plant a garden or do landscaping?

19. Can we put a pool in the backyard?

20. How do we pay rent?

21. Do we get our deposit back after we move out? How long does it take?

22. Are we required to purchase renter’s insurance?

23. What is the late fee and grace period for paying rent?

24. What school district does this home fall into?

25. What are the nearby churches/grocery stores/ department stores/ gas stations etc.

A great property manager will be able to answer all of these questions and be prepared for odd or unusual ones as well. If you are interested in learning more about Scott Properties, contact us Here.

Charleston Property Management |One of the most nerve-wracking days a property manager has is when they go into a rental home for the first time after a tenant moves out. We have no idea what to expect and hope that the tenant took care of their home. One way to ease this stress is to ensure that the tenants in your rental homes are responsible adults and will leave home is an excellent condition. While there’s not much you can do about normal wear and tear, use these three tips to help ensure your tenants will take care of their rentals.

1. Screen Tenants-As a property manager, the essential part of your job is screening tenants. You can’t let anyone with a deposit move into a home. You need to make every potential tenant fill out an application and perform a credit and background check, verify employment and income and call the references. Tenants should make a least three times the rent amount in income and show they are responsible through a steady employment history and good credit.

2. Have a Detailed Lease-The lease for the rental home needs to be detailed so that tenants know what is expected of them and what the consequences are for not taking care of the home. Make sure you include rules about trash/garbage accumulation, smoke detectors remaining in working order, upkeep of the home, and pets if applicable. You should also include the move out inspection form that you will use to determine if the tenant will get their deposit back so that they can make sure to have everything completed before handing over the keys.

3. Do Inspections-A property manager that performs inspections on rental homes generally see homes being better maintained because the tenant expects the landlord to check up on them. Schedule an inspection every six months and at lease renewal time. Do not allow tenants to renew their lease if they do not pass their inspection. You can also charge lease violation fines if needed. Just make sure that the rules about inspections and violations are spelled out in the lease.

If you are ready for a qualified Charleston property manager to talk to you about your rental home, contact Scott Properties today.

Charleston Property Management |Anyone who has ever considered coastal living should be looking to Charleston, South Carolina first. The iconic city is significant to American history being founded in 1670 and holds onto those traditional roots while also embracing a thriving metropolitan vibe that people all over the United States have fallen in love with. Charleston may even have more awards than any other city in the country including accolades from Travel + Leisure Magazine, Forbes, Fodor’s, Conde Nast, Huffington Post, Business Insider, and the Wall Street Journal among many others.

All these awards aren’t the only reason you should consider moving to Charleston, however. Rental property management in Charleston is available to make your move comfortable and convenient if you are renting a home rather than purchasing. With 28 new people moving to Charleston each day, rental property management in Charleston is the best way to ensure you lease the perfect rental before someone else does.

Charleston is growing at three times the population of the rest of the United States on average and many of the 28 people moving here every day are well educated, young, new to the workforce adults who as created a growing labor force at four times the U.S. average. Charleston is in the top 50 of fastest-growing metros in the country and the place to be for young millennials and the next generation of college graduates.

Property Management in Charleston companies has a variety of homes for rent in Charleston ranging from new and modern, to rustic and historical. When you decide to move to a city like Charleston, partnering with a company that knows the region and can get you exactly what you are looking for is always the best option for a smooth transition. This way, you’ll be able to enjoy the fantastic beaches, eclectic art scene, vibrant history, sunny weather, and lower taxes without worrying if you made the right decision in where you live.

If you’ve fallen in love with Charleston, South Carolina, let our property managers help you find the perfect rental for you and your family. Contact Scott Properties today.

Charleston Property Management companies need to grow to stay in business and keep turning a profit and attracting new property owners is the most crucial part of the process. There are three essential things that Charleston property management needs to do if they want to gain new rental property owners as fast as possible.

1. Show How Unique Your Property Management Company Is

Rental property owners who are looking for Charleston property management need to show how they stand out from the competition. What do you offer that other companies in Charleston do not? Build yourself a solid reputation, especially online and through social media, but also focus on what makes your business unique.

2. Show A Commitment to Growth and Profit 

A rental property manager is making a significant investment in Charleston property management, and they need to know your company is willing to capitalize on that investment. Stay on top of new market trends in property management and show that your company is adaptable and open to change and growth. Be prepared to answer questions about your business growth and where you see your Charleston property management company going in the next two to five years.

3. Show that you Care

A rental property owner is trusting your company to take care of large investment, and they want to know that you care about their business as much as they do. Create an online portal for owners to be able to track their account and see what their rental property is costing them vs. what their profit is. You should also keep owners updated with reports of maintenance, tenant issues, financial statements, and any other relevant information about the rental property.

Are you a property owner looking for the best Charleston property management company? Contact Scott Properties today and find out how they can help you make the most of your rental business.