Self‑Manage Your Myrtle Beach Vacation Rental? Here is What You Should Know Before You Decide:
Managing your own vacation rental might sound like a great way to save money—but should you Self-Manage Your Myrtle Beach Vacation Rental? Is it truly the right move for your Myrtle Beach investment?
If you’ve been wondering whether to take on the responsibilities yourself or hire a professional property manager, you’re not alone. Many investors, especially those managing their first rental, wrestle with this decision.
Let’s break down everything you need to know to decide whether self-management is the right choice for your Myrtle Beach vacation rental.
The Appeal of Self‑Managing in Myrtle Beach
There’s a reason so many vacation rental owners consider self-managing. The idea of keeping more profit and having complete control over your property is tempting. The main benefits that folks typical see are:
● No management fees: You could save 10 – 20% on gross revenue.
● Full control: You decide on pricing, cleaning standards, and guest rules.
In theory, it sounds ideal. But let’s take a look at what it really involves.
What Self‑Management Really Involves
Self-managing is a full-time responsibility — even if you only have one property. Here’s some of what you’re signing up for:
● Guest communication: Answering inquiries, handling check-ins and issues — 24/7.
● Turnovers: Coordinating the cleaning after every guest.
● Maintenance: Handling repairs, scheduling vendors, managing emergencies.
● Listing upkeep: Adjusting rates, updating photos, optimizing descriptions.
● Reputation management: Responding to reviews and ensuring 5-star stays.
If you’re not ready to be on call at all hours or juggle multiple service providers. Self-management can get overwhelming quickly.
Pros of Self‑Managing Your Vacation Rental
Self-management does offer some real benefits. Especially for hands-on owners with time and local access.
● Cost savings: No management commission means more potential profit.
● Customization: Deliver a unique, personalized guest experience.
● Connection: Build direct relationships with guests.
The type of people that we typically see who love self managing are those who truly enjoy connecting and serving guests. It might be a husband and wife investor team and one of the partners spends the majority of their time hosting. While the other has a typical job. I see this quite often with those who are successful at it.
Cons of Self‑Managing in a Busy Market Like Myrtle Beach
The Myrtle Beach vacation rental market is competitive and guest expectations are high. Here’s what makes self-management tricky here:
● Time demand: Handling everything can feel like a second (or full-time) job.
● No backup: You’re on the hook for everything — even when you’re sick or out of town. Unfortunately, you can’t just turn it off.
● Quality risk: A missed detail can lead to bad reviews and lost revenue.
● Expertise: Staying up to date on what is going on in the market and how different marketing channels change. For example, AirBnB just had a major commission change and if you weren’t aware, you could easily lose thousands of dollars.
● Local regulations: Navigating taxes and compliance takes effort, which aren’t a major hurdle in the Myrtle Beach area. However, I will make an important point below on something that may be coming.
● Burnout: Constant availability and pressure can wear you down fast. Guests can be not-so-nice at times and this wears on people quickly.
Speaking of regulations, we promised we would share something important earlier. At the time of writing this article, North Myrtle Beach is considering a policy change that would require Vacation Rental owners to have a “local, responsible party” who lives within 45 minutes of the property. This person would have to respond to any issues that arise at any hour of the day or night within 1 hour.
It’s an important detail, because if you don’t live near the property – you may not have the ability to self-manage in the future.
Questions to Ask Before You Decide
Still on the fence? Ask yourself:
● Do I live locally or visit often?
● Can I respond to guest issues within minutes, not hours?
● Do I have a reliable cleaning and maintenance team?
● Do I understand Myrtle Beach rental laws and tax requirements?
● Is this a short-term project or a long-term investment strategy?
This is an important decision to make and I would take your time to consider what the best option is.
When It Makes Sense to Hire a Professional Manager
Here are a few signs it’s time to bring in professional help:
● You don’t live near the property or can’t be there often.
● Guest issues stress you out or take too much time.
● You’re growing your portfolio and can’t manage them all.
● You want to optimize income, not just maintain your listing.
● You don’t find enjoyment in managing the pricing and marketing of the property.
● Your time is better spent elsewhere or on activities that you enjoy.
If you know self-management is the path today. You should still talk to a few property managers and understand what value they can provide. It may not be the option you take now, but down the road it could be something you come back to.
Plus, there isn’t any harm in getting a few rental estimates from property managers to help set up your initial pricing strategy.
Our Take: Know Your Strengths and Goals
Self-management isn’t “wrong” — for some investors. It’s the right path. But with everyone I’ve talked with, I don’t know too many who have self-managed for 2 years or more.
This is simply because it becomes too stressful and too time consuming for most. The majority of clients I work with value their time more than the cost of property management.
You can always start solo and bring in support later. But trying to do it all — especially in a market like Myrtle Beach — can come at the cost of guest experience and your own sanity.
Ready to Stress Less with Expert Help?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or just want to get one of those rental estimates.
👉 Learn how myBeach Vacation Rentals can help you succeed in Myrtle Beach
We’ll handle the details. So you can enjoy your investment without the daily grind.
FAQ: Self-Managing Vacation Rentals in Myrtle Beach
What are the biggest challenges of self-managing a vacation rental? The biggest challenges are managing the 24/7 guest communication and knowing how to manage your pricing throughout the year.
Can I manage a Myrtle Beach rental if I don’t live locally? Yes you absolutely can. Currently, there are no restrictions or regulations around this in Myrtle Beach proper.
How much time does self-management really take? I would expect to spend 3-4 hours per week self managing. It may be more in the summer months, but there is a lot of work that can come up in the offseason months.
Is it cheaper to manage your own vacation rental? Technically yes, but this is a tricky one. If you know what you’re doing and you are good at it, then yes it could be. If you’re new or don’t care to indulge yourself in the world of optimizing your vacation rental, I actually think it could be more costly to self manage.
When should I switch to a professional manager? When the workload becomes too stressful and you realize your time is worth more, then I would hire a property manager.
