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Tenant moveouts are always a surprise. When you work in Charleston property management, you never know what state to expect the home to be in when a family moves out. Most renters are great and will follow the moveout checklist and do all the cleaning and replacing that is requested. However, sometimes, tenants leave behind personal property when they can’t take it with them and don’t have storage. When this property is broken down vehicles, the rules about removing the property is a bit different than if they left behind a couch, however.

When is a Vehicle Considered Abandoned?

When a vehicle remains on public or private for longer than seven days without the permission of the property owner, Charleston property management can start the process of having the vehicle removed. The tenant loses their permission to have the car parked on the property of the rental house as soon as the home is deemed abandoned. If the property is abandoned, the manager must all the police and report the vehicle abandoned. The police will then contact a tow company and handle the rest from there.

Many landlords have provisions in their lease that state vehicles not running, not registered, or not on wheels cannot be stored on rental property. If the lease has this provision, Charleston property management will be able to have the vehicle towed without notifying the police or the tenant, although it is a good idea to give the tenant a lease violation warning first, giving the tenant a chance to relocate the vehicle.

When is a Property Considered Abandoned?

South Carolina law says that rental properties can be considered abandoned when the rent payment is more than 15 days past due and the tenant has not been onsite or reachable. If the rent payment is late, and the utilities have been turned off by the tenant before the end of the lease, the property may be considered abandoned immediately, however.

Contact Scott Properties, Charleston Property Management

If you’re looking for Charleston property management that can deal with any tenant situations, call Scott Properties at 843-790-4929.

Charleston Property Management in SC | The rent is late on one of your single-family properties. You’ve called, emailed, and even shown up and knocked on their door, but you haven’t heard from your tenants in weeks. When you go to tape the eviction notice to their door, it looks like most of the furniture is gone and no one has been home in a long time. You suspect the tenant skipped out on the rent and abandoned the house, but what can you do next?

Abandoned Property Laws in South Carolina

Code of Laws 27-40-730 in South Carolina outlines exactly how Charleston property management in SC can declare a home abandoned. If a tenant is missing or out of reach for more than fifteen days past the date of defaulting on the rent, the home can be considered abandoned. However, if the tenant skips out on the rent and has the utilities turned off, or reverted into the property manager name, the home can be considered abandoned from the date of the utility account change.

Once the property has been abandoned, the landlord can terminate the lease agreement and can lease the home to someone else. If the tenant left property behind and the items are valued at less than $500, Charleston property management in SC can dispose of the property without attempting contact with the tenant. If the personal property value is worth more than $500, the property manager or landlord needs to file an ejection application with the local court system and the judge must approve of the disposal.

If the tenant left a vehicle on the premise, the rules are a little different. A motor vehicle is considered abandoned when it has been left and unmoved on private or public property for a week or longer with consent from the property owner. Charleston property management in SC is not allowed to remove the vehicle on their own, however. An abandoned vehicle must be reported to the police in South Carolina who will arrange for the towing.

Contact Scott Properties | Charleston Property Management in SC

If you’re looking for a property manager in Charleston that can deal with even the most complex tenant issues, call Scott Properties at 843-790-4929.

COVID-19, Coronavirus, has caused a worldwide pandemic like no one has seen in more than a century. Markets and economies all around the planet are struggling amidst the rising cases of the virus, but especially in the United States. You might think now is the worst time to take a risk and start your own Charleston property company, but there’s never been a better time for qualified investors.

Millions of people in the United States have lost their jobs and haven’t worked for months. Many people were never able to receive the extra unemployment stimulus and the number in the checking account is getting smaller and smaller for many families. While this is terrible news for the housing market, it’s a ripe time for investors that can get past the tightened restrictions on mortgages and have cash on hand.

Many sellers will be willing to sell their homes for deals they would never consider pre-COVID-19. They might have a limited time to pay the mortgage before entering foreclosure and selling as fast as possible will save their credit and reputation. Even properties that are paid off are being put on the market to ensure that families have the extra money in the bank to make it through at least the end of the year.

Although the best part about buying a home during the pandemic is the nearly guaranteed ability to buy for a steal, the sellers are also being put into a position where they will want to rent, rather than buy again. This means that more people will be looking for a Charleston property company to help them find the perfect home for rent.

Every Charleston property company owner knows that having a lower than average interest rate is not something offered to all developers or investors. If you’re wanting to become a property manager and invest in new houses, or flip houses, then rent—the market is on the buyer’s side in 2020.

If you’re ready to take your Charleston property company to the next level, call Scott Properties at 843-790-4929.

Moving to Charleston is sure to be one of the best decisions you’ve made; however, the city is so large and has so many different neighborhoods it might take some time to figure out which is best for your family. Working with Charleston property management in SC is a great way to locate which neighborhood will suit your needs best, but we’ll give you the rundown on some of our favorites.

Mount Pleasant-This Charleston suburb is often rated the #1 best neighborhood by Charleston property management in SC. The population is around 84,000 and offers a city feel in a suburban area with lots of restaurants, the best schools in Charleston, public parks and green spaces, and preserves a conservative, family atmosphere with single-family homes one of the most popular rental options.

Charleston-Living in the city is always an excellent choice for families or single people. The population is just over 133,000 and offers a dense suburban atmosphere with lots of bars, coffee shops, restaurants, galleries, and parks. The city tends to be more moderate leaning than conservative, and the public schools are rated above average. There are also many rentals available in the city, with nearly half of the residents choosing to rent their homes rather than own.

Folly Beach-The population is small, with less than 3,000 residents. Still, the area is perfect for young professionals that are looking for a suburban environment with high-value homes and conservative values. Single-family homes are popular rental options here, with the average rent being more than $1,000 per month. Folly Beach is perfect for people who want to live right on the water and enjoy coastal living.

Summerville- Families love Summerville because it is one of the best for raising children. There is more diversity here than in other neighborhoods in Charleston, and the pubic school systems are highly rated. About one-third of the 50,000+ popular rents, but the average home value is less than $200,000, which makes the rent in single-family homes more affordable than other neighborhoods.

Charleston property management in SC should be able to answer your questions about any of the neighborhoods in Charleston County. Each neighborhood offers its unique perks and benefits, and a property manager can help you find the perfect rental for you.

If you’re looking for property to rent in Charleston, contact Scott Properties at 843-790-4929.

One of the situations that every kind of rental property management Charleston offers will face eventually is whether or not to allow their tenants to sublet their homes. Subletting is a situation in which the leaser is not able to fulfill the terms of the lease and needs to move out early. Rather than breaking the lease, subletting allows the tenant to find someone else to take over the remainder of the lease to avoid penalties.

Rental property management Charleston-based owners know that the job market can fluctuate, and sometimes families may need to move earlier than expected. Sometimes when people get married, they will want to move before the end of their lease. You might also have tenants who lose their jobs and can no longer afford the home, or they simply just want to live somewhere else. Having terms in your lease regarding subletting is important for metropolitan areas, especially. Here’s what a property manager or landlord needs to know before deciding if they will allow subletting:

Pros of Subletting

One of the most significant advantages to rental property management Charleston allows subletting is monetary. If you don’t allow subletting and the tenant leaves anyway, your company might end up having to track down and then fight that tenant in court for rent owed and legal fees. When you allow subletting, you’re more likely to have the rent keep coming in.

Another great reason to allow subletting is that your vacancy rates will improve. Subletters are likely to sign a lease renewal in their name when the lease they are finishing is up. You won’t have to worry about transitioning the home between tenants either or do move out inspections.

If your rental property management Charleston company decides to allow subletting, make sure to screen subletters the same way you qualify tenants and quire property manager approval before the lease is signed or someone new moves in.

Cons of Subletting

The only con to subletting, if you screen subletters like you do tenants, is that two people are on the hook for the lease. While this may seem beneficial—the original leaser is responsible for paying if the subletter fails to pay; it also means that your rental property management Charleston company will have to evict two people.

If subletting and tenants aren’t something you want to deal with as an owner, contact Scott Properties of Charleston to hire a property manager who can handle any tenant situation. Our number is 843-790-0148.

One of the best things about being part of a Charleston property management team is showing homes and meeting new people. Seeing the delight and excitement on a family’s face when they find their dream home to rent is one of the best reasons to become a property manager. However, with stay-at-home orders in effect and people needing to social distance for their health and safety, the job is changing. Today Charleston property management companies need to take their businesses virtual, and we’re here to give you some tips and tricks to do so.

Online Portals-Use online portal for mass communications with your tenants, online rent payments, the ability to submit maintenance requests, and even have conversations with tenants and share documents such as lease renewals! You don’t need tenants to come into the office to sign a new lease document; they can sign and upload it through tenant portals. Charleston property management companies can use online portals to ensure proper social distancing and provide updates quickly to help tenants navigate the uncertain times. You can also have portals accessible to owners only, which will help streamline all your processes, even when COVID-19 is no longer a worry.

Text Messaging-Tenants, property managers, vendors, and owners can all communicate through text messaging and encourages social distancing as well. Giving your tenants fast ways of reaching you will stop them from coming to the office for non-emergency issues. There are text messaging apps available so that you can send out messages to many groups at once and never have to share your personal cell information.

Running a rental business during COVID-19 is a new territory for veteran and new Charleston property management companies and managers. Still, there are many ways to modernize your business and be successful in using online tools.

If you’re an owner interested in working with a modern, Charleston property management company, call Scott Properties at 843-790-4929.