Summer bookings usually aren’t the hard part in Myrtle Beach.
Once winter rolls around, it’s a different story. A property that stayed busy all summer can suddenly have weeks of open dates.
That doesn’t mean the demand disappears. The guest just changes.
Instead of families coming down for a week at the beach, you’re trying to reach snowbirds, traveling professionals, people relocating to the area, and guests looking for a furnished place for a month or longer.
If you want to keep your property producing during the offseason, here are six strategies I’d focus on.
I also made a quick video breaking down these six strategies and what you can do to bring in more bookings during the slower months. Watch the video below, or keep reading for the full breakdown.
1. Market Outside Airbnb and VRBO
AirBnB and VRBO should still be part of your strategy. I just wouldn’t rely on them to fill the entire winter.
Sites like Furnished Finder can put your property in front of people specifically looking for furnished monthly stays. Traditional rental and relocation websites can also be worth testing during the offseason.
You’re trying to reach a different guest, so it makes sense to market in different places.
One important thing: make it clear that you’re offering a furnished monthly or seasonal rental, not a 12-month lease. Put that near the top of the listing so there’s no confusion.
2. Price It Like a Monthly Rental
Monthly guests aren’t shopping the same way as someone booking five nights in July.
If you take your normal nightly rate and multiply it by 30, you’re probably going to price yourself out of the market.
Look at what comparable properties are charging for monthly stays and focus on the total revenue for the month instead of getting hung up on the nightly rate.
A lower nightly rate can still make sense if one guest fills a month that would otherwise have a lot of empty nights.
Airbnb also allows discounts for stays of 28 nights or longer. Just be careful with when those discounts are active. A monthly rate that works in January probably doesn’t make sense in July.
3. Let Local Realtors Know What You Have Available
Realtors are an overlooked source of offseason bookings in Myrtle Beach.
A lot of people considering a move here want to spend some time in the area before buying. They may be deciding between Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, learning the neighborhoods, or simply making sure they actually enjoy living here.
Those people can be a great fit for a furnished monthly rental.
Reach out to Realtors you know and give them something easy to send to their clients:
- Property location
- Bedrooms and bathrooms
- Available months
- Monthly rate
- A few good photos
- Contact information
Keep it simple.
We’ve seen Realtor referrals work well during the offseason. Sometimes you just need to remind them that you have something available.
4. Use Video to Stand Out
Local Facebook groups can be a good source of offseason guests, but there’s plenty of competition.
Video is an easy way to make your property stand out.
A quick walkthrough lets someone see the layout, balcony view, bedrooms, amenities, and beach access. That’s especially helpful for someone considering living in the property for two or three months.
Get a good video made once and you can use it everywhere: Facebook, your website, social media, email marketing, and during the busy season.
It’s one marketing asset that can keep working for you all year.
5. Make Monthly Availability Obvious
If you want monthly bookings, tell people you’re offering them.
Put something near the top of your listing like:
Winter monthly rentals available. Contact us for current rates and availability.
Don’t bury it at the bottom of the description.
Someone might start out looking for a shorter trip, see the monthly option, and realize staying longer is more affordable than they expected.
It’s a small change, but it can create inquiries you wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.
6. Look for Opportunities to Extend Longer Stays
When someone asks about a monthly rental, find out how flexible their dates are.
A guest looking for January and February might also be open to staying into March. One longer reservation can be a lot easier than trying to fill the same period with several different guests.
There can also be tax considerations with longer stays in South Carolina. Under current state guidance, accommodations supplied to the same person for 90 continuous days are not subject to the state’s Accommodations Tax.
Owners should always confirm which state and local tax rules apply to their specific reservation, but it’s worth knowing about when you’re talking to guests interested in extended stays.
The goal is simple: find a good guest who can fill a large part of your offseason at a rate that makes sense for both sides.
The Bottom Line
You can’t market January the same way you market July.
During the summer, you’re mostly selling vacations. During the winter, you’re also selling a temporary home.
If your offseason calendar has too many empty nights, focus on these six things:
- Market beyond Airbnb and VRBO.
- Set realistic monthly pricing.
- Build relationships with local Realtors.
- Use video to market the property.
- Make monthly availability obvious.
- Look for opportunities to extend longer stays.
None of these strategies are complicated. The important thing is actually doing them before your winter calendar is already empty.
At myBeach Rentals, we manage homes and condos throughout Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach and actively work to bring in snowbird and longer-stay guests during the offseason.
If your property is sitting empty every winter, reach out to our team. We’d be happy to take a look at what you’re doing now and where there may be room to improve.
