Keep Your Myrtle Beach Rental Safe: Investor Tips

Keep Your Myrtle Beach Vacation Rental Profitable and Protected

There are multiple precautions and technologies you can utilize to keep your Myrtle Beach Vacation Rental profitable and protected from bad guests. A great rental agreement is just the start. 

Owning a vacation rental in Myrtle Beach is a lucrative investment opportunity—but it comes with its fair share of risks. From property damage and unruly parties to fraudulent bookings and neighbor complaints, bad guests can turn your profitable rental into a legal and financial nightmare. That’s why taking proactive steps to protect your property is crucial. This guide will walk you through the safeguards you can set up to protect your rental before anything goes wrong.

Know and Comply with Local Laws & Regulations

Vacation Rental Local Laws & Regulations

Understanding the legal landscape is your first line of defense. South Carolina’s Vacation Rental Act outlines key requirements for landlords and property managers. These include having written rental agreements, disclosing property conditions, and handling deposits properly.

In addition to state law, Myrtle Beach and Horry County enforce their own short-term rental regulations—including zoning restrictions, business licensing, occupancy limits, and hospitality taxes. Non-compliance can result in steep fines or having your license revoked.

MyBeach Tips: Review your property’s zoning classification, register your rental with the local authority, and ensure your listing meets all fire and building codes.

Screening Guests Before Booking

Not all guests are created equal. Screening is essential to minimize the risk of property damage, fraud, or disruptive behavior.

BEST PRACTICES FOR SCREENING:

  • Use Booking Platforms That Verify Guest Identities (e.g., government-issued ID, facial recognition). Platforms like AirBnB and VRBO do this.
  • Look For Positive Guest Reviews From Past Hosts.
  • Ask For The Purpose Of The Visit — Red flags include vague answers or locals trying to book for a weekend.
  • Use Guest Screening Tools Or Services That Check For Criminal History Or Fraud Attempts.

Proactively vetting guests not only protects your property but also sets expectations upfront. 

MyBeach Tips: We used to allow guests to book within 12 hours of their arrival date. We no longer do this and have extended our window to 48 hours. This has reduced the number of local scammer bookings that we have got and cut back on chargebacks. 

Clear Rules, Expectations & Agreements

Clarity is protection. You want to set expectations from the time they are looking at the listing to the time they book and have to sign the rental agreement. Here are some important items you should include in your listing and your rental agreement: 

  • Maximum occupancy
  • Quiet hours and noise policy
  • No Party Clause
  • Pet Rules (If Allowed)
  • Any Unique Policies That The Community Or Resort Has
  • Consequences Of Rule Violations
  • Communicate rules before booking, after confirmation, and upon arrival. Post key reminders throughout the property (e.g., fridge magnets or digital tablets).
 

Please keep in mind that each platform has its own rules and policies you agree to by using that platform. It’s important that you understand those so that you don’t get removed from the platform or end up in a bad situation with a guest. 

Vacation Rentals Using Smart Home Tech

Vacation Rentals Using Smart Home Tech

There are some great smart home technologies that you can install in your rental. Some are essential while others are great additions if you’re looking to boost security. 

Essential Security Upgrades:

  • Smart locks with unique codes for each guest
  • Doorbell Cameras like a Ring Camera
  • Exterior security cameras in common areas and not facing indoors (clearly disclosed)
  • Minut smart smoke/ noise detector can be used to detect if guests are smoking or exceeding the after-hours noise policy 
  • Smart Wifi systems can measure the number of guests connected to Wifi and provide security alerts when the occupancy limit is exceeded
 

The best part about using devices like the Minut is that it will also record data for a short period of time. If you have a scenario where you need to file an insurance claim against the guests for damage, you will have it documented. We have won each of our last 11 insurance claims for smoke damage caused by guests thanks to a device like Minut. 

Short-Term Vacation Rental Insurance & Financial Safeguards

Don’t rely on standard homeowners insurance—it rarely covers any of the potential damages that will come from bad or clumsy guests. Invest in specialized short-term rental insurance that covers:

  • Guest-caused property damage
  • Liability claims (e.g., injuries)
  • Loss of income due to cancellations or property repairs

Require a security deposit or offer a damage waiver option during booking. Companies like Safely offer a damage waiver policy where you get charged a small fee per reservation that will cover accidental guest damage up to a certain amount. You can include that fee in your rental rate and it will give you great peace-of-mind knowing that guest damages will be covered.

At MyBeach Vacation Rentals, we utilize a similar policy for our Homeowners and we have never exceeded $800 in damages caused by guests. Our damage waiver policy has covered this every time. 

MyBeach Bonus Tip

Build a rapport with your guests from the time they book so that they understand there is another human that either owns or is responsible for this property. 

We think guests sometimes forget that they are renting someone’s home and they end up treating it very poorly. The more they like and appreciate you, the better they will likely end up taking care of the home. 

We are not saying this is always the case, but it absolutely helps when they understand it’s a home that is rented and not just a “rental”. 

Conclusion

Myrtle Beach Vacation Rentals

Keep your Myrtle Beach vacation rental profitable and protected by taking the right precautions. Bad guests are an unfortunate reality in the vacation rental industry—but with proper safeguards, you can protect your Myrtle Beach investment, maintain profitability, and provide a five-star experience for the right kind of guests.

To recap, your defense strategy should include:

  • Full Legal Compliance
  • Guest Screening Processes
  • Clear And Enforceable Rules
  • Security Tech And Safety Measures
  • Proper Insurance Coverage
  • Building Guest Rapport 
 

Protect Your Rental Now—schedule a call 843.855.4711 and let us manage everything for you, stress-free.

MyBeach Vacation Rentals FAQs

MyBeach Vacation Rentals FAQs
  1. Do I Need A Written Rental Agreement For My Myrtle Beach Vacation Rental?
    No you do not need one when you get bookings through platforms like AirBnB. However, you will need one if a guest books directly with you. 
  2. Can I Charge A Security Deposit For Vacation Rentals In SC?
    Charge a security deposit on your direct website. If you’re advertising on platforms like AirBnB or VRBO – the security deposit needs to be included in the guest’s checkout. 
  3. What Kind Of Insurance Covers Guest-Caused Damage?
    You’ll need short-term rental insurance or specialized policies like those from Proper Insurance or Safely.
  4. Are Noise Monitoring Devices Legal In SC Rentals?
    Yes—as long as they don’t record conversations and are disclosed to guests prior to arrival. 
  5. What Should I Do If I Have A Guest That Is Throwing A Party? 

If they booked through a platform, report them to the support team on that platform. If they booked with you directly, you will want to contact your local police if they violated a clause in your rental agreement or a local ordinance. 

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