South Carolina Property Management: Top 5 Options

The South Carolina real estate market is emerging as a good place to invest in real estate. This trend is supported by the resilient economy and the affordable cost of living, attracting newcomers. Tourism is also well-developed owing to the beautiful nature, the white sand beaches, the warm weather, and the multiple festivals. This means that investors can find profitable opportunities for both long-term and short-term rental properties. In case they don’t want to be full-time landlords or Airbnb hosts, they can hire a property manager to take care of their rentals and maximize revenue.

Let Awning find the best property manager for your rental property. Simply fill out the form and Awning will find a property manager that provides the best rates and services for your property.

The 5 best property management companies in South Carolina are:

• HomeRiver Group: Best Overall Property Management Company in South Carolina
• Bluewater Property Management, LLC: Best for Different Property Types
• Marchant Property Management: Best for Flexibility
• GoGo Property Management: Best for Flat Fees
• New Heights Property Management: Best for Landlord Guarantees

How We Selected the Best Property Management Companies in South Carolina

When choosing the top property management companies for rental properties in the South Carolina market, we used these criteria:

• Property management services quantity and quality: We analyzed the rental management services offered by companies to ensure full-service at high quality.
• Local market coverage: We looked for property managers that operate in all the best areas for buying a rental property in South Carolina.
• Rental property types coverage: We included both short-term and long-term rental property management companies that work with different kinds of single-family and multifamily homes.
• Company size and reachout: We selected small, local and large, nationwide property managers. Each model has its own advantages and disadvantages, and different investors have different preferences.
• Property management fees and costs: We searched for South Carolina property managers that have transparent prices with no hidden fees and whose rates are competitive in the local market.
• Use of technology and human intervention: We chose property management companies that use the latest technology to improve and automate relevant processes and focus human efforts where the benefit is the most significant.
• Online reviews by property owners and renters: We checked overall ratings and individual reviews to make sure that ranked companies deliver the services that they promise to property investors.
• Value for money: All in all, we selected the 6 companies that provide the best value for money in the South Carolina rental market.

HomeRiver Group: Best Overall Property Management Company in South Carolina

HomeRiver Group is the largest third-party residential property management company in the US market, which covers a few locations across South Carolina. John Hirschfeld, Andrew Propst, Doug Dale, and Joshua Bangert established the company in 2016, with headquarters in New York, NY. Since then, the company has reached nationwide coverage by acquiring the best local property managers in each market and turning them into partners. At the moment, HomeRiver Group works with 40,000+ rental properties and 32,000+ homes in HOA communities. This is the best property manager in the South Carolina real estate market as they provide full-service at competitive prices.

HomeRiver Group Property Management Services

The services covered by the HomeRiver Group comprehensive property management include:

• Expert market analysis to maximize ROI
• Listing
• Marketing
• Property showings
• Extensive tenant screening
• Move-ins and move-outs
• Rent collection
• Routine inspections
• Maintenance coordination
• Detailed financial reporting
• Evictions
• Renovations and remodeling

HomeRiver Group Property Management Locations

In the South Carolina rental market, the HomeRiver Group property management services are available in:

• Charleston: Charleston, Goose Creek, Knightsville, Ladson, Lincolnville, Moncks Corner, Mount Holly, North Charlston, Rockville, and Summerville
• Columbia: Blythewood, Cayce, Chapin, Columbia, Elgin, Hopkins, Irmo, Lexington, Luggoff, and West Columbia
• Sumter: Camden, Dalzell, and Sumter

HomeRiver Group Property Types

The South Carolina teams of HomeRiver Group work with single-family homes and small multifamily homes.

HomeRiver Group Property Management Costs

The cost of the South Carolina property management services is not available online. Across the US, HomeRiver Group charges competitive fees that are usually between 4% and 9% of monthly rent. Additional fees that investors can expect are a leasing fee, lease renewal fee, quarterly or biannual inspections, HVAC tune-up, gutter cleaning, and eviction protection.

HomeRiver Group Property Management Terms

The websites of the South Carolina offices do not provide detailed information on the management agreements that the company uses. In most cases, though, the property manager requires owners to sign an initial contract of 6 or 12 months, after which month-to-month agreements become an option too.

HomeRiver Group Property Management Reviews

About 100 South Carolina property owners and tenants have reviewed the services provided by HomeRiver Group. Their reviews show generally good experiences.

Satisfied landlords and tenants praise the seamless processes, the thorough completion of all work, the outstanding and proactive staff members, the professional and friendly team, and the prompt communication. Dissatisfied customers mention slow handling of maintenance issues, unexpected charges, and inefficient communication.

How to Get Started with HomeRiver Group Property Management

To get started with the best overall property management company real estate investors can submit an online form via HomeRiver Group or call 415-610-7867.

Bluewater Property Management, LLC: Best for Different Property Types

Bluewater Property Management, LLC is a full-service property management company serving Charleston and the Tri-county of the South Carolina rental market. Aaron Silverman founded the company in 2012, with headquarters in North Charleston, SC. The team aims to improve cash flow for investors while preserving the long-term value of their investment property. Bluewater Property Management is the best South Carolina property manager for various rental types as they handle both single-family homes including townhouses and multifamily buildings.

Bluewater Property Management, LLC Services

Bluewater Property Management delivers full-service management including:

• Rental property marketing analysis
• Property advertising including photos, a walking tour video, and listing on 25+ websites
• Weekly advertising metrics
• Property showings
• Tenant screening including identity, income, credit history, and rental history background checks
• Pet screening
• Tenant selection
• Tenant leasing including lease signing and security deposit collection
• Documented move-in and move-out property condition assessment
• Move-outs
• 24/7 tenant emergency support
• HVAC filter delivery program
• Rent collection
• Owner draw disbursement via ACH
• Utility coordination
• Accounting compliance
• Legal compliance
• Handling maintenance requests
• Coordinating maintenance and repairs implemented by approved vendors
• Paying maintenance and repair bills
• Preventive maintenance program (optional)
• Monthly owner and income statement reports
• End-of-year statements
• 1099 filing
• Renovation and capital improvement project oversight (optional)

Additionally, the company provides a few guarantees to rental property investors:

• Pet Guarantee: Bluewater Property Management will cover up to $1,500 in pet damage above the security deposit amount.
• Tenancy Eviction Guarantee: The company will find a tenant for free if a renter gets evicted in the first 12 months.

Bluewater Property Management, LLC Locations

Bluewater Property Management takes care of rental properties in the following South Carolina markets:

• Charleston
• Charleston - Daniel Island
• Charleston - James Island
• Charleston - West Ashley
• Goose Creek
• Hanahan
• Ladson
• Mount Pleasant
• North Charleson
• Summerville

Bluewater Property Management, LLC Property Types

Bluewater Property Management works with both single-family homes and multifamily buildings. This makes it the best South Carolina property manager for investors with mixed portfolios.

Bluewater Property Management, LLC Costs

The company offers 3 different service packages that investors can choose from, including:

Leasing Only Plan: This plan includes all the services needed to place tenants.

• Leasing fee: One month’s rent for a minimum of $1,500
• Setup fee: $300

Full-Service Management Standard Plan: This plan includes everything in Leasing Only plus the services required to run a rental property business.

• Monthly management fee: 7.9% of monthly rent for a minimum of $150
• Leasing fee: 50% of one month’s rent for a minimum of $750
• Setup fee: $150
• Lease renewal fee: $125
• Project management oversight for maintenance and capital improvements: 10% of project’s value

Full-Service Management Premium Plan: This plan includes everything in Standard with discounted rates for optional services.

• Monthly management fee: 10.9% of monthly rent for a minimum of $175
• Leasing fee: 35% of one month’s rent for a minimum of $600
• Setup fee: $150
• Lease renewal fee: $75
• Project management oversight for maintenance and capital improvements: 5% of project’s value

Bluewater Property Management, LLC Terms

The Bluewater Property Management website does not provide information on the terms of the contract that property owners are expected to sign. Thus, interested investors should contact the company and ask for a copy that they can review prior to committing to working with this property manager.

Bluewater Property Management, LLC Reviews

Around 80 property owners and renters have written online reviews of Bluewater Property Management, showing very positive experiences.

You can find Bluewater Property Management reviews on:

• Facebook: Currently 4.6/5 stars based on 23 reviews
• Google: Currently 4.6/5 stars based on 22 reviews
• ChamberofCommerce.com: Currently 4.6/5 stars based on 22 reviews
• Birdeye: Currently 4.3/5 stars based on 12 reviews
• Yelp: Currently 3.0/5 stars based on 2 reviews

Happy landlords and tenants praise the indispensable and unparalleled services, the seamless and effortless processes, the ability to handle major maintenance issues, the well-calculated rental rates, and the excellent communication. Unhappy customers mention delayed repairs, falsified charges, and withholding security deposits when not needed.

How to Get Started with Bluewater Property Management, LLC

To get started with the best property management company in South Carolina for different types of properties, real estate investors can submit an online form via the Bluewater Property Management, LLC website to receive a prospective client package or call 843-606-5572.

Marchant Property Management: Best for Flexibility

Marchant Property Management is a local company that manages long-term rentals in the Greater Greenville area of South Carolina. The company was established in 1995, with headquarters in Greenville, SC. They aim to focus on attention to detail, communication, and professionalism in the delivery of property management services. Marchant Property Management offers multiple packages which makes them the best property manager for flexible options in the South Carolina real estate market.

Marchant Property Management Services

Marchant Property Management provides comprehensive services that include:

• Rental price analysis for optimizing rental value
• Rental listings including professional photos and video walk through tour
• Extensive advertising on 50+ websites including the MLS
• Advertising on social media
• Property showings
• 21-point tenant screening including income verification, credit, criminal history, evictions, and rental history checks
• Third-party pet screening
• Custom attorney-drafted lease agreement
• Security deposit collection and reconciliation
• Rent collection
• Owner proceeds payment via direct deposit
• Tenant concierge service
• 24/7 emergency repair hotline
• Move-in, move-out, and semi-annual property evaluations
• Maintenance and repair coordination done through vendors
• Required renter’s insurance with $100,000 liability coverage to owners
• Lease enforcement
• Legal compliance
• HOA management
• Utility coordination
• Quarterly delivery of HVAC filters
• Monthly statements
• End-of-year statements
• Year-end 1099
• Eviction preparation, filing, and court appearance

Furthermore, the company offers the following guarantees and protections for owners and their long-term rentals:

• Happiness Guarantee: Investors can cancel the management agreement if Marchant Property Management does not place a qualified tenant within 60 days of marketing.
• Results Guarantee: Property owners do not need to pay anything until a qualified tenant gets placed.
• Leasing Guarantee: The company will find a new qualified tenant for free if a resident placed by them does not fulfill a minimum of 9 months of lease.
• Insurance Protection: Marchant Property Management provides $100,000 of tenant caused property damage liability which can decrease the landlord insurance premium.
• Pet Damage Protection: The property manager will cover up to $2,000 in pet damage above the security deposit for pets approved by them.

Marchant Property Management Locations

Marchant Property Management works with properties located in these South Carolina markets:

• Anderson
• Belton
• Boiling Springs
• Duncan
• Easley
• Fountain Inn
• Greenville
• Greer
• Inman
• Lymon
• Mauldin
• Pelzer
• Piedmont
• Powdersville
• Simpsonville
• Spartanburg
• Taylors
• Travelers Rest
• Wellford
• Williamston

Marchant Property Management Property Types

Marchant Property Management offers services to both single-family and multifamily homes rented out on a long-term basis.

Marchant Property Management Costs

Marchant Property Management has 4 service packages that can meet the needs of investors who want to be more or less involved in the management of their rentals. That’s why this is the best South Carolina property management company for flexible options.

The plans are:

Lease Only: This plan includes all services necessary to place a tenant.

• Leasing fee: One month’s rent for a minimum of $1,000
• Move-in evaluation: $150 (optional)

Silver: This plan includes everything in Lease Only plus the services needed to completely manage a rental property, with many services paid separately.

• Monthly management fee: 7.9% of monthly rent
• Leasing fee: 75% of one month’s rent
• Lease renewal fee: $450
• Professional property photos: $250
• Video walk through tour: $100
• Eviction preparation and filing: $100/occurrence
• Eviction court appearance: $100/occurrence
• Move-in evaluations: $99/evaluation
• Move-out evaluations: $99/evaluation
• Semi-annual property evaluations: $99/evaluation

Gold: This plan includes everything in Silver with fewer optional services paid separately.

• Monthly management fee: 9.9% of monthly rent
• Leasing fee: 50% of one month’s rent
• Lease renewal fee: $350
• Professional property photos: $150
• Video walk through tour: $75
• Eviction preparation and filing: $50/occurrence
• Eviction court appearance: $50/occurrence
• Move-out evaluations: $99/evaluation
• Semi-annual property evaluations: $99/evaluation

Platinum: This plan includes everything in Gold with more services covered by the monthly management fee.

• Monthly management fee: 11.9% of monthly rent
• Leasing fee: 25% of one month’s rent
• Lease renewal fee: $250
• Semi-annual property evaluations: $99/evaluation

Marchant Property Management Terms

The company website does specify what agreement investors need to sign when hiring Marchant Property Management. What is clear is that under the Happiness Guarantee, owners can opt out of services if the company is unable to find a qualified tenant in the first 60 days. Nevertheless, it’s important that investors obtain a copy of the contract and review it carefully to know what exactly they are getting into.

Marchant Property Management Reviews

There are 1,000+ online reviews of Marchant Property Management written by both investors and tenants. They reveal positive experiences.

You can find Marchant Property Management reviews on:

• Birdeye: Currently 4.6/5 stars 584 reviews
• Google: Currently 4.7/5 stars based on 495 reviews
• Facebook: Currently 4.6/5 stars based on 18 reviews
• Yelp: Currently 1.5/5 stars based on 14 reviews
• BBB.org: Currently 1.0/5 stars based on 4 reviews

Satisfied property owners and renters highlight the proactive services, the professional and timely addressing of property issues, the quick-to-respond and reasonably priced vendors, the high occupancy rates, and the excellent customer support. Dissatisfied customers complain about unexpected fees, sluggish implementation of required maintenance work, inadequate repairs, poor customer service, and disorganized communication.

How to Get Started with Marchant Property Management

To get started with the best property management company in South Carolina for flexibility, property owners can fill in an online form on the Marchant Property Management website or call 864-527-4505.

GoGo Property Management: Best for Flat Fees

GoGo Property Management is a local, woman- and minority-owned full-service property manager covering the Upstate of South Carolina. The company has its headquarters in Greenville, SC. They aim to save property owners the time and frustration that comes along with property management. GoGo Property Management works with various types of long-term rentals and charges flat fees.

GoGo Property Management Services

As one of the top South Carolina rental management companies, GoGo Property Management offers the following services:

• Rental listings including professional photos and walkthrough videos
• Marketing on Zillow, Trulia, Hotpads, Realtor.com, Apartments.com, Homes.com, and Rent.com as well as on social media
• Pre-qualifying prospective tenants through a partnership with Tenant Turner
• In-person showings
• Tenant screening through a third-party partner including place of employment, credit report, criminal background, rental history, and eviction report
• Professionally prepared leases
• Lease signing
• Move-in walk-through
• Rent collection
• Compliance with legal and financial regulations
• Quarterly HVAC filter delivery
• 24/7 emergency maintenance call center
• Semi-annual property inspections
• Property maintenance coordination implemented by an in-house team and fully insured off-site vendors
• Financial reporting
• Monthly owner statement
• Year-end summary
• Annual 1099
• Eviction preparation, filing, and court appearance

GoGo Property Management also offers these guarantees:

• Pet Damage Guarantee: Up to $2,500
• Rental Income Protection: Up to $2,500
• Tenant Malicious Damage: Up to $1,500

GoGo Property Management Locations

GoGo Property Management focuses on the Greenville area including:

• Boiling Springs
• Easley
• Fountain Inn
• Greenville
• Greer
• Mauldin
• Pickens
• Piedmont
• Simpsonville
• Spartanburg
• Taylors
• Travelers Rest

GoGo Property Management Property Types

GoGo Property Management works with single-family homes, townhomes, condos, duplexes, triplexes, and small apartment buildings.

GoGo Property Management Costs

GoGo Property Management offers 4 different service plans, all of which are charged as flat fees. Packages include:

Go: This plan includes everything needed to place a tenant and run a rental property. Only 5+ door properties are eligible.

• Monthly management fee: $95
• Leasing fee: 75% of one month’s rent
• Lease renewal fee: $200
• Eviction fee: $200

Go Pro: This plan includes everything in Go plus professional photography, featured listing on Instagram, proactive lease renewals, annual property evaluations, and eviction preparation, filing, and court appearance.

• Monthly management fee: $125
• Leasing fee: 50% of one month’s rent
• Lease renewal fee: $200

Go Pro Max: This plan includes everything in Go Pro plus featured listing on the company website, semi-annual property inspections, and protections.

• Monthly management fee: $155
• Leasing fee: 25% of one month’s rent
• Lease renewal fee: $200

Go Luxury: This plan includes everything in Go Pro Max plus specialized listing agent, in-person showings, and video walkthrough. Only properties with $2,500+ of monthly rent are eligible.

• Monthly management fee: $250
• Leasing fee: 50% of one month’s rent
• Lease renewal fee: $200

Real estate investors with large portfolios benefit from discounts on the property management fees.

GoGo Property Management Terms

GoGo Property Management does not provide a copy of the management agreement online. Thus, interested investors should contact the company and ask for a copy.

GoGo Property Management Reviews

Almost 400 real estate investors and tenants have written online reviews of GoGo Property Management on third-party websites. These reviews show extremely positive experiences.

You can find GoGo Property Management reviews on:

• Birdeye: Currently 4.9/5 stars based on 136 reviews
• Google: Currently 4.9/5 stars based on 121 reviews
• ChamberofCommerce.com: Currently 4.9/5 stars based on 121 reviews

Positive reviews by satisfied investors and renters focus on the amazing services, the proactive relationships, the smooth processes, the detail-oriented and responsive team, the friendly staff, the quick solutions to problems, and the prompt responses. Negative reviews talk about filthy properties, broken appliances, and terrible customer service.

How to Get Started with GoGo Property Management

To get started with the best property management company in South Carolina for flat fees, landlords can submit an online form on the GoGo Property Management website or call 864-756-9083.

New Heights Property Management: Best for Landlord Guarantees

New Heights Property Management is the only Certified Residential Management Company (CRMC) in South Carolina, which ranks them among the top 1% of property managers nationwide. The company was founded in 2009, with headquarters in Summerville, SC. They aspire to simplify processes and maximize returns for owners, while providing quality and comfortable housing for tenants. New Heights Property Management has more guarantees than most other property managers, which makes them the top property management company for owner protections in the South Carolina market.

New Heights Property Management Services

New Heights Property Management offers the following services to long-term rental property owners:

• Professional rental price analysis
• Rental listing
• Listing marketing and advertising
• Finding and screening tenants
• Pet screening
• Rent collection
• Filter replacement program
• HOA coordination
• Legal compliance
• Mid-lease inspection
• Property maintenance
• Property accounting
• Reporting
• Capital improvement evaluation

Furthermore, New Heights Property Management provides more guarantees to owners than most other best rental property management companies in South Carolina. These include:

• Leasing Guarantee: The company will not charge a marketing fee to find a new tenant if a resident leaves before the end of the initial lease term.
• Pet Guarantee: New Heights Property Management will cover up to $2,000 in pet damage above the security deposit for pets approved by them.
• Maintenance Guarantee: The company guarantees maintenance services executed by their in-house team for workmanship for 1 year.
• Satisfaction Guarantee: Property owners can cancel at any time with no penalty if they are not satisfied with the services.

New Heights Property Management Locations

New Heights Property Management serves the following areas in Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester County:

• Charleston
• Goose Creek
• Moncks Corner
• Mount Pleasant
• North Charleston
• Summerville

New Heights Property Management Property Types

The New Heights Property Management team works with single-family homes, townhouses, condos, apartments, and multiplexes.

New Heights Property Management Costs

New Heights Property Management offers a single full-service package including the following costs:

• Monthly management fee: 10% of monthly rent (no fee during vacancies)
• Leasing fee: 50% of one month’s rent
• Lease renewal fee: $100
• Smart lock installation fee: $260
• HOA coordination fee: $25
• Insurance claim handling fee: $200 + 15% of claim
• Certified letter fee: $25
• Mid-lease inspection: $100
• Capital improvement capitalization: Upon request

New Heights Property Management Terms

There is no copy of the property management contract on the company website. However, under the Satisfaction Guarantee, landlords can opt out of the agreement as soon as they are not happy with the provided services, without penalty fees.

New Heights Property Management Reviews

There are more than 1,000 online reviews of New Heights Property Management that show generally positive experiences by property owners and renters.

You can find New Heights Property Management reviews on:

• Birdeye: Currently 4.4/5 stars based on 564 reviews 562 Google reviews
• Google: Currently 4.5/5 stars based on 525 reviews
• Yelp: Currently 1.5/5 stars based on 31 reviews
• Facebook: Currently 3.0/5 stars based on 26 reviews

Happy landlords and tenants praise the efficient services and processes, the quick addressing of maintenance requests, the professionalism and responsiveness of the staff, and the prompt and frequent communication. Unhappy customers highlight financial mismanagement, unethical practices, withholding of security deposits, and unprofessional attitude.

How to Get Started with New Heights Property Management

To get started with the best property management company in South Carolina for landlord guarantees, rental property owners can fill in an online form on the New Heights Property Management website or call 843-883-6130.

Takeaway

These are the 6 top rental management companies in South Carolina. HomeRiver Group and Awning are the best long-term and short-term rental property managers, respectively. Investors with diverse portfolios can consider Bluewater Property Management, LLC, while property owners who want access to guarantees and protections should check out New Heights Property Management. Marchant Property Management provides investors with the ability to choose between several service packages, and GoGo Property Management is the best company for flat fees.