Choosing the right short-term rental manager in Murrells Inlet can mean the difference between a packed summer calendar and missed revenue. You want reliable bookings, clean turnovers, and a stress-free experience that protects your property and your time. In this guide, you’ll learn how to evaluate managers, understand fee structures, check local rules, and measure performance. Let’s dive in.

Murrells Inlet basics and rules

Murrells Inlet is a coastal, tourism-driven market with strong summer demand, healthy shoulder seasons in spring and fall, and a slower winter period. That seasonality affects occupancy, rates, cleaning cadence, and maintenance planning. Expect your manager to align pricing and staffing with these swings so you capture peak revenue and protect your asset in slower months.

Short-term rentals in South Carolina are subject to state sales tax on lodging. The state’s base sales tax rate is 6 percent. Counties and municipalities may add local accommodations or hospitality taxes, so you should verify the specific rate, licensing, and remittance process that apply to your property in Georgetown County or any relevant municipality.

Murrells Inlet includes areas that are unincorporated and near county lines. Confirm your exact jurisdiction because business licensing, STR registration, occupancy limits, safety inspections, and emergency contact rules can vary by location. Standard homeowner policies often exclude STR activity, so maintain STR-appropriate insurance. Require your manager to carry commercial general liability and, when applicable, workers’ compensation for their vendor staffing.

What to confirm before listing

• Property jurisdiction and whether county or municipal rules apply
• Business license, STR registration, and any required inspections
• State and local tax rates, collection method, and remittance steps
• Occupancy limits, parking, and noise rules for your address
• Local emergency contact and communication procedures
• STR insurance for you and proof of commercial insurance from the manager

Manager service models and fees

Different management models fit different goals and budgets. Understanding what you get for the fee is critical.

• Full-service management. End-to-end support that typically includes listing optimization, dynamic pricing, 24-7 guest messaging, cleaning and turnover coordination, maintenance, supplies, marketing across channels, owner statements, and damage claim handling.
• Booking-only or marketing-first. The manager lists and markets, handles bookings and basic guest communication, while you or your vendors handle cleaning and maintenance. Commissions are lower but operations are your responsibility.
• Co-host or à la carte. A subset of tasks, such as guest messaging and housekeeping coordination, for a lower percentage or fixed fee.
• Platform or tech-only. Software for channel management, dynamic pricing, and owner portals. You still manage physical operations.

Fee structures vary by service level and market. Full-service commissions commonly range from the mid-teens to the mid-thirties percent of rental revenue. Booking-only models can be closer to about 10 percent. Some managers use flat monthly fees or hybrids that combine a base fee with a smaller commission.

Watch for add-on fees or markups. These may include cleaning fees, maintenance coordination markups, supply procurement, lock or key set-up, guest amenity provisioning, inspection fees, marketing fees, and payment processing fees. You want full transparency on what is included in the commission and what is billed separately.

Questions to ask about fees and scope

• What percentage do you charge and what services are included?
• Which expenses are billed to guests versus to the owner?
• Do you charge markups on cleaning or maintenance vendor invoices?
• How do you handle taxes and document remittance?
• Do you manage damage protection products or security deposits, and how are claims handled?

Technology and reporting you need

A strong owner portal gives you clear visibility and prevents surprises. Ask each manager to demonstrate their system and share sample reports.

Essential features to compare:

• Real-time calendar and channel sync to prevent double bookings
• Revenue dashboard with gross bookings, fees, taxes, net payouts, and pending payouts
• Detailed owner statements with line items for each reservation and expense
• Reservation logs and guest communication history with time stamps
• Maintenance ticketing with vendor assignment and resolution status
• Document storage for licenses, insurance, and inspection certificates
• Bank transfer setup, automatic payouts, and reserve funds for repairs
• Mobile access and customizable notifications
• Integration with dynamic pricing tools or a proven in-house pricing engine

Key performance metrics to monitor:

• Occupancy rate by month and season
• Average daily rate and revenue per available night (RevPAR)
• Booking lead time and average length of stay
• Cancellation rate and refund behavior
• Review score averages, response times, and review response policy
• Year-over-year revenue growth and seasonal performance vs. the local market
• Service KPIs like time to resolve maintenance issues and turnover readiness time

How to compare performance

Ask for the same metrics for your property and a set of comparable local properties. Performance is only meaningful relative to similar homes in the same micro-market and season. Require statements and raw data that reconcile to your payouts. Reports should be clear, auditable, and easy to understand.

How to vet a manager

A thorough vetting process protects your revenue and your property. Focus on local capability, transparent reporting, and documented processes.

Vetting checklist:

• Local presence or a proven local vendor network for rapid in-person support
• Proof of business licensing and insurance, including general liability and workers’ comp when applicable
• Written protocols for guest emergencies, maintenance escalation, and owner approval thresholds
• References from at least three local owners with similar properties
• Sample owner statement and monthly report templates
• Clear contract terms on length, termination, payouts, exclusivity, and damage handling
• Turnover quality controls, checklists, inspection photos, and inventory control
• Strong listing optimization, professional photography, and channel management

Practical interview questions

• What percentage of gross revenue do you charge and what does it cover?
• What additional fees should I expect and how are they calculated?
• Do you require exclusivity and what are the termination terms?
• How and when are payouts delivered, and are they net of expenses or gross?
• Do you collect and remit state and local taxes on my behalf, and how do you document that?
• How do you manage security deposits, damage claims, and incident resolution timelines?
• Can you share a sample monthly owner statement and KPIs for a similar property?
• Who answers messages and calls 24-7, and what is your escalation protocol?
• How do you qualify and monitor cleaners and maintenance vendors?
• Can I speak with recent owner references and review two active local listings you manage?
• What owner responsibilities remain and what do you fully handle?
• What insurance do you carry and what coverage do you require from owners?

Documents to request

• Sample signed management agreement for review
• Recent 3 to 12 months of owner statements and a reconciled P&L for a comparable property
• Evidence of tax remittance if the manager remits on owners’ behalf
• Proof of insurance and vendor agreements for cleaning and maintenance
• Local owner and vendor references with contact details
• Portfolio of listing photos and example listings with performance highlights

Key contract terms to negotiate

• Term length and termination. Month-to-month with notice or a 6 to 12 month minimum are common. Seek fair exit clauses tied to performance.
• Exclusivity. Clarify whether the manager has sole rights to market and manage. Balance dedicated marketing benefits with any limits on direct owner bookings.
• Repair approval thresholds. Set clear dollar limits for routine repairs that do not require approval and separate emergency thresholds.
• Payout timing and reserves. Define payout frequency and whether the manager maintains a reserve for incidentals. Require transparent reconciliation.
• Damage handling. Confirm deposit handling, claims processes, and reimbursement timelines.
• Insurance and indemnity. Specify coverage requirements for both parties and ensure the manager provides proof of active policies.

Operations that matter in Murrells Inlet

• Storm readiness. Expect a hurricane season plan that covers guest communications, cancellations, evacuation guidance, and property protection procedures.
• Pest management. Coastal environments require proactive programs to prevent complaints and damage.
• Parking and noise. Clear house rules and enforcement reduce neighbor issues and potential fines.
• Vendor relationships. Reliable local plumbers, electricians, HVAC pros, and carpenters are essential for fast fixes, especially in peak season.
• HOA and condo rules. Ensure your manager understands and enforces any community policies that affect rentals.

Quick owner checklist

• Confirm your property’s exact jurisdiction and current tax and licensing requirements
• Request a sample monthly statement, 3 to 12 months of performance data for a similar property, and local owner references
• Verify the manager’s insurance, business license, and vendor contracts
• Get a written list of services included in the fee and all possible add-on charges
• Clarify contract term, termination notice, and repair authorization thresholds
• Confirm owner portal access, payout cadence, and the tax remittance process
• Ask how hurricane season and other local emergencies are handled

Next steps

Start by clarifying your goals, budget, and involvement level. Shortlist two or three managers, review their contracts and sample statements side by side, and score them on technology, service coverage, fee transparency, and local response capability. If possible, set a 90-day performance plan with occupancy, ADR, review targets, and service KPIs that are benchmarked against local comps. Avoid long lock-in terms until the manager proves results through a full seasonal cycle.

If you are planning to buy, sell, or reposition a short-term rental in Murrells Inlet or across the Grand Strand, talk with The Brian Piercy Group. You will get local guidance, clear strategy, and marketing-first execution tailored to investor goals.

FAQs

What is a fair management fee in Murrells Inlet?

• Full-service commissions commonly range from the mid-teens to the mid-thirties percent of rental revenue, with booking-only options often around 10 percent.

Who handles South Carolina lodging taxes for STRs?

• You can collect and remit yourself or hire a manager to do it, but require clear documentation that shows state sales tax and any local accommodations taxes remitted.

How long should a management contract be?

• Many owners seek month-to-month with notice or a 6 to 12 month term with reasonable exit clauses if performance targets are not met.

What metrics should I review monthly?

• Track occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, lead time, length of stay, cancellations, review scores, response times, maintenance resolution speed, and year-over-year revenue.

How do hurricanes affect STR operations and bookings?

• Managers should have a hurricane plan for guest communication, cancellations, evacuation guidance, and property protection so you minimize risk and maintain guest trust.