Short Term Rental
Management

Surge offers local full service vacation rental management for busy vacation rental owners and Airbnb hosts in North Charleston, South Carolina

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North Charleston, South Carolina Short Term Rental Overview

Airbnb Market
North Charleston presents exceptional short-term rental investment opportunities driven by its strategic position as South Carolina's third-largest city and gateway to the Charleston metropolitan area, where tourism generates over $4.2 billion annually. Property owners can capitalize on average daily rates ranging from $120-180 for well-positioned units, with occupancy rates consistently exceeding 70% during peak seasons due to the city's proximity to Charleston International Airport, the Port of Charleston's business travel influx, and overflow demand from Charleston's saturated accommodation market. The area's lower property acquisition costs compared to downtown Charleston—typically 30-40% less per square foot—combined with strong rental demand from Boeing's North Charleston facility employees, medical tourism to MUSC, and leisure travelers seeking affordable alternatives to premium Charleston lodging, create optimal cash-on-cash returns often exceeding 12-15% annually. North Charleston's ongoing urban revitalization, including the $35 million Riverfront Park development and expanding entertainment district, positions early investors to benefit from both immediate rental income and long-term property appreciation as the market continues maturing into a primary destination rather than merely an alternative to Charleston proper.
Short Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rental regulations in North Charleston, South Carolina involve a complex web of city ordinances, zoning restrictions, and permit requirements that can vary significantly by neighborhood and property type, with violations potentially resulting in hefty fines, forced closure of your rental operation, and legal complications that could jeopardize your investment. The city's evolving regulatory landscape means that what's compliant today may not be tomorrow, and navigating business licenses, occupancy taxes, safety inspections, and neighbor complaint procedures can quickly become overwhelming for property owners trying to manage these responsibilities alongside their rental operations. However, when you partner with a professional short-term rental management service, you can rest assured that all licensing requirements, tax obligations, permit renewals, and regulatory compliance issues are handled expertly on your behalf, allowing you to enjoy the income from your property while staying fully protected from the costly risks of non-compliance.
Occupancy Rates
North Charleston Airbnb properties experience peak occupancy rates during spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) when pleasant weather attracts tourists to the historic Charleston area, with summer months (June-August) also showing strong demand despite higher temperatures and humidity. The slower shoulder seasons typically occur during winter months (December-February) when cooler temperatures and fewer festivals reduce tourist activity, though the area maintains moderate demand due to business travelers and visitors attending events at the Charleston Area Convention Center. Professional revenue management becomes crucial during these fluctuations, as property owners must implement dynamic pricing strategies that maximize rates during high-demand periods while remaining competitive during slower months to maintain consistent occupancy. Effective revenue management involves analyzing local events, weather patterns, and competitor pricing to adjust rates in real-time, ensuring properties capture premium pricing during peak seasons like the Charleston Wine + Food Festival in March or Spoleto Festival in May/June, while offering strategic discounts during winter months to attract budget-conscious travelers and maintain cash flow throughout the year.
Vacation Rental Management
Self-managing a vacation rental in North Charleston presents formidable operational challenges that can quickly overwhelm property owners and devastate their investment returns. The rapid guest turnover typical in this popular tourist destination demands precise coordination of cleaning crews, maintenance teams, and supply restocking within tight 2-4 hour windows between bookings, often complicated by Charleston's notorious traffic congestion and limited parking around historic properties. Managing 24/7 guest communication becomes particularly demanding given the area's diverse visitor base—from business travelers needing immediate assistance with keyless entry systems to families requiring urgent responses about air conditioning failures during sweltering Lowcountry summers. Maintenance issues in North Charleston's humid, salt-air environment are both frequent and urgent, with HVAC systems, plumbing, and exterior surfaces requiring constant attention, while finding reliable, licensed contractors who can respond immediately to guest complaints about non-functional amenities often proves nearly impossible for individual owners. The competitive vacation rental market in the Charleston area means that even a single negative review stemming from delayed responses, inadequate cleaning, or unresolved maintenance issues can permanently damage your property's ranking and revenue potential. Full-service property management transforms these overwhelming operational burdens into a streamlined system that ensures consistent 5-star guest experiences, immediate professional response to all issues, and truly passive income generation that allows owners to focus on growing their investment portfolio rather than managing daily crises.
Attractions and Amenities
North Charleston's primary tourist attractions include the Charleston Area Convention Center which hosts major trade shows and conferences year-round, the Tanger Outlets offering premium shopping experiences, the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center drawing visitors for concerts and sporting events, and the historic Riverfront Park providing scenic waterfront recreation along the Cooper River. To maximize revenue from guests visiting these destinations, rental properties must offer high-speed Wi-Fi and dedicated workspace areas for business travelers attending conventions, ample parking and storage space for shopping bags and purchases from outlet visits, early check-in and late check-out flexibility to accommodate evening event schedules at the Coliseum, and outdoor amenities like grills, seating areas, and bike storage to enhance the riverfront park experience. Additionally, properties should provide easy highway access to these venues, multiple bathrooms for groups attending events together, and local area guides highlighting shuttle services or walking distances to these key attractions, as guests specifically choose North Charleston accommodations based on proximity and convenience to these major draws rather than traditional beach or resort amenities.

Why choose Surge?

Surge is local Airbnb management that’s reliable, affordable and the best for your property.
Cost
Guest communications
Host Communications
Insurance
Contract
Cost
Starting at 15% fee
Guest communications
Guest response within 10 minutes, 24 hours a day
Host Communications
Designated host call in phone line
Insurance
Full damage protection for every reservation
Contract
No annual agreements
Other Property Mangers
Cost
25-40% fee
Guest communications
Sporadic guest communications
Host Communications
Bot response assistants
Insurance
Unreliable insurance coverage
Contract
Contract lock-ins

Understand Your STR Income

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Surge is geared towards maximizing potential

Be at ease with the knowledge that your vacation rental is being optimized to its fullest potential.
30%
In gross revenue
150 M
Potential guests
4.9
Superhost status
7+
Booking platforms
1
Property manager
The house was great. It accommodated our large group nicely. The owner was responsive and checked in on us throughout the trip. The gate around the home added privacy and security. The beds were comfortable as well. Extra linen, towels and washcloths. We are looking to book this home in the future!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
We really appreciated Surge. He was responsive, attentive, and went above to make sure our stay was seamless. You can tell he takes pride in providing a clean/organized place. Everyone loved the pool table and shuffleboard. This place is also very close to great restaurants. The place we went to had the best catfish. Would definitely rent from Surge again!!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
Our group really enjoyed our long weekend stay here! The property was very clean and spacious but also provided some privacy to accommodate our large family. Surge was responsive when we reached out to them and also accommodated an early check-in. We felt secure given that the property was gated and had smart locks on both entry doors. We strongly recommend this property and would love to stay here again!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
My family and I were here for my daughter’s graduation from UofH. Surge was very upfront, kept us informed and accommodating. The place was clean and fit my entire family comfortably. We have already made plans to come back. Great location, private and safe environment. Would highly recommend! Thank you Surge for making this stay memorable and stress free for our family!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
Great stay that accommodated all our needs for a successful for trip to Houston, i hope to Book in the coming future.
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
The host was great, he responded quickly when needed and checked in on us from time to time throughout the whole day. He was awesome and the place was great for my family of 16. Definitely will book with him in the future.
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about the product and billing.
Does Surge Property Management allow pets in its short term rentals?
Surge Property Management leaves that decision to the property owner. While allowing pets can be a big perk for some guests, Surge does not have any requirements for the property owner to allow it. Service animals are a different case. Surge is prohibited to refuse a reservation, charge pet fees, hold guests to different rules, apply differential treatment or use discriminatory language if a guest is accompanied by a service animal. A guests service animal must not be out of control, un-housebroken, left alone at the listing without prior approval, allowed into areas that are considered unauthorized by the guest and allowed in a public space without being harnessed, leashed, or tethered and not under the guests control.
Do I get access to an owner portal?
Surge Property Management has a tech leading owner portal to keep its property owners in the loop, instead of on the outside looking in. In the owner portal you can reserve days for personal use, see pending reservations, nightly pricing rates, owner statements, expense receipts, guest messaging and more!
Do you screen the guests that are staying in my property?
Our intelligent Guest Screening technology allows us to screen vacation rental guests before they enter your property, making it easier to keep bad guests out. We proactively assess the risk posed by each guest, through legal, non-discriminatory checks. Guests will be asked to submit some personal details including their name, date of birth, physical home address and contact details. We then verify by having the guest take a live selfie and submit a photo of their ID(either a drivers license or passport). This information will then be processed to determine the true identity of your guest, including whether the ID is fraudulent and if the provided details match those on the ID. This process will generate a risk report for us to review before the guest arrives.
Do you provide insurance for guest damages?
We partner with the premier provider of short term rental protection also offering guest screening and comprehensive insurance coverage. Our partner brings confidence and peace of mind to both Surge Property Management and its clients(homeowners). Our third party partner has protected over 60 billion in homeowner liability coverage and 1 million guest nights. Ask your Surge sales representative for more details.
What happens if there is guest damage to my property?
Each guest is required to make a $500 security deposit. Any damage above $500 we are able to document, submit, and follow a claim through on your behalf with our short term rental insurance partner covering up to $5,000,000.
How does Surge compare to a national provider like Vacasa?
While both Surge and Vacasa both have a full service model designed to be hands off from the property owner, Surge stands out above the rest by being more intentional and selective with the properties we decide to accept into our management portfolio. This allows us to give the required attention to the properties we manage instead of just "setting it and forgetting it" like the other property managers do. Once you go onboard with them you just become another number.
Does Surge handle the maintenance of the vacation rental?
Yes, Surge is able to handle any property maintenance(including hot tub & pool) for your property. We have a large network of service providers, additionally, if you have a preferred vendor we can assign and coordinate maintenance with them as well.
What services does Surge Property Management offer?

Surge is a full-service property manager and provides the following service to property owners:

  • Listing creating and management across multiple channels
  • Calendar management
  • Cleaning
  • Laundry
  • Restocking
  • Maintenance
  • Dynamic Pricing
  • Lock automation
  • Guest Portal
  • Owners Portal
  • Listing optimization
  • Photography
  • 24/7 guest communication
  • Check-in/out support
  • and more!
Is Surge Property Management a Superhost on Airbnb?
Yes, Surge Property Management is a Superhost on AirBNB. Airbnb defines a Superhost as a Host who goes above and beyond to provide excellent hospitality. Guests can easily identify a Superhost from the badge that appears on their Airbnb listing and profile. Superhosts have more visibility and earning potential.
How and when do I get paid?
Surge Property Management initiates ACH payment to its property owners once a month by the 10th day of the next month. Along with the ACH deposit sent to you, you also receive a highly detailed statement for review.
Are there any hidden fees?
Surge Property Management has the most transparent pricing in the industry. Our property owners are our Partners in business which is why we hold transparency at a very high standard. With your monthly statements you will be able to trace every dollar from when the guest paid for their reservation to when it was deposited into your bank account. Contact your Surge sales rep for a personal walk through of our statement structure.
Can I still use my property?
Yes of course. The biggest perk of a vacation rental is still retaining personal use of the property for your personal use. Inside of our Owner’s Portal you can reserve days for personal use.
How do you market my property?

We list your property on the major platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, Google Vacation rentals and more! We also allow direct bookings very popular among returning guests. Our integration technology is second to none and was awarded the following:

  • Airbnb Preferred + Software Partner
  • VRBO Elite Partner
  • Booking.com Premier Connectivity Partner
How do you handle complaints or disputes?
We aim to resolve issues quickly and fairly, protecting both the guests and the property owner’s interests. We mediate disputes and ensure a smooth resolution process.
How do I get started with your service?
Contact us to schedule a consultation. We'll discuss your property, our services, and how we can help you achieve your rental goals.
How do you handle waste management?
We coordinate with local services to ensure proper waste disposal and recycling, maintaining cleanliness and environmental responsibility.
What safety measures do you implement?
We ensure the property has functional smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and complies with all local safety regulations.
What does Surge’s full service property management mean?
Surge's comprehensive property management service allows property owners to be completely hands-off with the daily operations of their Airbnb properties. Surge takes care of all the daily tasks, including listings, guest interactions, cleanings, restocking, and maintenance, ensuring a stress-free experience for the property owner.

Still have questions?

Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Please chat to our friendly team.
Get in touch
(713) 853-9573