Isle of Palms Magazine Winter-Spring 2017-18

28 www.IsleOfPalmsMagazine.com | www.ILoveIOP.com | www.IOPmag.com Y ou did it. You purchased that beach vacation home you have always dreamed of. You can’t wait to spend quality time there periodically throughout the year. You decide that since you won’t be there permanently year-round, you’ll rent the home out to make some extra money while you aren’t there. That’s when the question arises – should you use a property management company or manage the home yourself? It’s no small task. Homeowners who rent out their properties themselves need to be prepared to take calls and emails from interested parties; advertise the property; maintain a website; replace furnishings regularly; draft a lease; process payments; come up with a check-in and checkout procedure; schedule cleaning and gardening services; and be available for “emergencies.” And if all that isn’t enough, homeowners also need to make sure they have the home insured properly and pay the bills, such as those for electricity and water. This is an almost impossible task if you don’t live nearby. Managing your beach vacation home, which was supposed to be a respite from everyday stress, can actually be quite a burden. A reliable property management company will help ease that burden. [ Feature ] By Theresa Stratford Don’t Let Your Beach House Become a Bitch House Property Managers Put Your Mind at Ease