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Folly Beach, South Carolina, is a vibrant and thriving Airbnb market, characterized by its unique blend of laid-back beach town charm and close proximity to the historic and cultural hub of Charleston. The area attracts a diverse range of visitors, from families and beach enthusiasts to history buffs and foodies, creating a dynamic and varied demand for short-term rentals. The market peaks in the summer months, with a consistent demand throughout the year due to the mild climate and year-round attractions. Properties range from beachfront homes and condos to quaint cottages, all offering hosts the opportunity to capitalize on the area's popularity. However, competition is high, and successful hosts often differentiate themselves through unique offerings, local knowledge, and high-quality service.
In Folly Beach, South Carolina, the Airbnb market experiences significant seasonality, largely driven by the area's climate and tourist attractions. The peak season typically begins in late spring and extends through the summer months, when the weather is warm and beach activities are in full swing. During this period, Airbnb hosts can expect higher occupancy rates and can potentially charge higher prices due to increased demand. Conversely, the off-peak season, which generally spans the cooler fall and winter months, sees a decrease in tourist activity and subsequently, a drop in rental demand. However, events like the Folly Beach Christmas Parade and the Folly Gras festival can provide smaller boosts in occupancy during these quieter months.
In Folly Beach, South Carolina, Airbnb hosts must navigate a unique set of regulations to ensure compliance with local laws. The city requires all short-term rental properties to have a valid business license, which must be renewed annually. Additionally, a 14% accommodation tax is levied on all rentals, which includes a 6% state tax, a 1% city tax, and a 7% local tax. It's also important to note that Folly Beach has strict zoning laws, with short-term rentals only permitted in certain areas. Violations of these regulations can result in hefty fines, so it's crucial to stay informed and up-to-date on any changes to local ordinances.
Managing Airbnb properties in Folly Beach, South Carolina, presents unique challenges due to the seasonal nature of the market. High demand during the summer months requires efficient turnover processes and meticulous maintenance to ensure properties remain in top condition. Off-season, it's crucial to focus on marketing strategies that appeal to non-traditional vacationers, such as digital nomads or retirees. Regularly updating property listings with local events or attractions can help attract these guests. Additionally, fostering good relationships with local cleaning services and maintenance professionals can ensure quick response times to any issues, maintaining high guest satisfaction rates.
In Folly Beach, South Carolina, properties that offer amenities catering to the beach lifestyle tend to be more successful. Amenities such as outdoor showers, beach gear rentals, and BBQ grills can significantly enhance the guest experience. Given the area's popularity for water sports, properties that provide storage for surfboards, kayaks, and paddleboards are highly sought after. Additionally, given the year-round mild climate, outdoor living spaces with comfortable seating and views are a major draw. Proximity to the beach and local attractions like the Folly Beach Pier and Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve can also be leveraged as an amenity. Lastly, given the laid-back, family-friendly vibe of Folly Beach, properties that are pet-friendly or have child-friendly amenities can also have a competitive edge.
Folly Beach, South Carolina, is a vibrant and thriving Airbnb market, characterized by its unique blend of laid-back beach town charm and close proximity to the historic and cultural hub of Charleston. The area attracts a diverse range of visitors, from families and beach enthusiasts to history buffs and foodies, creating a dynamic and varied demand for short-term rentals. The market peaks in the summer months, with a consistent demand throughout the year due to the mild climate and year-round attractions. Properties range from beachfront homes and condos to quaint cottages, all offering hosts the opportunity to capitalize on the area's popularity. However, competition is high, and successful hosts often differentiate themselves through unique offerings, local knowledge, and high-quality service.
In Folly Beach, South Carolina, the Airbnb market experiences significant seasonality, largely driven by the area's climate and tourist attractions. The peak season typically begins in late spring and extends through the summer months, when the weather is warm and beach activities are in full swing. During this period, Airbnb hosts can expect higher occupancy rates and can potentially charge higher prices due to increased demand. Conversely, the off-peak season, which generally spans the cooler fall and winter months, sees a decrease in tourist activity and subsequently, a drop in rental demand. However, events like the Folly Beach Christmas Parade and the Folly Gras festival can provide smaller boosts in occupancy during these quieter months.
In Folly Beach, South Carolina, Airbnb hosts must navigate a unique set of regulations to ensure compliance with local laws. The city requires all short-term rental properties to have a valid business license, which must be renewed annually. Additionally, a 14% accommodation tax is levied on all rentals, which includes a 6% state tax, a 1% city tax, and a 7% local tax. It's also important to note that Folly Beach has strict zoning laws, with short-term rentals only permitted in certain areas. Violations of these regulations can result in hefty fines, so it's crucial to stay informed and up-to-date on any changes to local ordinances.
Managing Airbnb properties in Folly Beach, South Carolina, presents unique challenges due to the seasonal nature of the market. High demand during the summer months requires efficient turnover processes and meticulous maintenance to ensure properties remain in top condition. Off-season, it's crucial to focus on marketing strategies that appeal to non-traditional vacationers, such as digital nomads or retirees. Regularly updating property listings with local events or attractions can help attract these guests. Additionally, fostering good relationships with local cleaning services and maintenance professionals can ensure quick response times to any issues, maintaining high guest satisfaction rates.
In Folly Beach, South Carolina, properties that offer amenities catering to the beach lifestyle tend to be more successful. Amenities such as outdoor showers, beach gear rentals, and BBQ grills can significantly enhance the guest experience. Given the area's popularity for water sports, properties that provide storage for surfboards, kayaks, and paddleboards are highly sought after. Additionally, given the year-round mild climate, outdoor living spaces with comfortable seating and views are a major draw. Proximity to the beach and local attractions like the Folly Beach Pier and Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve can also be leveraged as an amenity. Lastly, given the laid-back, family-friendly vibe of Folly Beach, properties that are pet-friendly or have child-friendly amenities can also have a competitive edge.
How It Works
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Connect With Local Pros
Seamless Onboarding
Sit Back And Earn
With the right vacation rental property manager, your home is in good hands.
They'll handle the bookings, guests, pricing updates, and day-to-day operations while you enjoy stress-free earnings and more time for what matters most.
Who We Trust
Personalized Support
Each home and host is different. The best property managers work with you to find the services and support that make sense.
Demonstrated Earnings
Your investment is important. Our partners have proven they can substantially increase revenue on properties over market averages.
Tech-Forward Focus
The best property managers use data to make smart decisions, and technology to create seamless guest experiences.
Trusted Brand Reputation
We partner with property managers with Superhost status and high guest ratings, so guests always know what to expect.
Who’s a good fit for a professional manager?
You think your short-term rental can make more money
Your property is not beating market averages, getting enough bookings, or does not have visibility across the major rental platforms.
You want a partner where you are valued
Our preferred managers build personal relationships with all of their owners and care about each property like it's their own.
You want hassle-free hosting
Whether you're down the street or a flight away, dealing with guest inquiries, cleaning, and everything in between is too time consuming and challenging.
Get connected
FAQ
Answers to common questions
What is vacation rental property management?
Vacation rental property management is a service provider that maintains and improves a vacation rental on behalf of owners. They manage the ongoing operation, marketing, maintenance, and promotion of a vacation rental, short-term rental, or Airbnb property.
What services does a vacation rental manager offer?
Most managers offer partial or complete end-to-end management of vacation rental properties. Complete management includes all aspects of home maintenance, cleaning, guest and host communications, and marketing, pricing, and promotion of your property. In addition to these services, Summer connects owners and hosts with professional design and investing services for their vacation home.
Can they help me convert an existing home into a vacation rental?
Absolutely! Many property managers do onboard homes that were recently purchased or are being converted into vacation rentals. The best teams will provide advice, guidance, and services to help your home prepare for its short-term rental launch.
How long does the onboarding process take?
The onboarding process usually takes 2-4 weeks. This gives the manager and owner ample time to inspect the property, get it ready for guests, and get the listing live. In the event that owners need additional time to furnish or otherwise improve the property, the onboarding process can be extended.
Will I get a smart lock?
Yes, most managers provide a smart lock. This helps them operate the home and seamlessly let guests in. While there is some upfront expense associated with the lock and some additional time to set it up, there’s nothing worse than a guest not being able to access the property when they arrive.
Will they take updated photos of the property?
In most cases, your manager will hire a professional photographer to do a shoot at the home. This happens after the home is both cleaned and staged for photography. This helps the home stand out on vacation rental booking sites and results in better bookings overall. If you have really high-quality photos already, you can skip this step in the onboarding process.
How do I know my property will be safe with guests?
Professional managers put a number of security measures in place at the home to monitor noise and avoid unwanted guests in the property. Most also have built-in procedures for resolving any immediate guest issues involving parties, extra guests, and anything else in violation of the booking and local laws and requirements.
