Frequently Asked Questions for Property Owners

We handle every aspect of running your property as a short-term rental. That includes creating and optimizing your listing on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO, setting and adjusting pricing daily based on market demand, communicating with guests 24/7, coordinating professional cleaning between every stay, managing maintenance and repairs, and sending you a detailed monthly report with your payout. You own the property. We do everything else.

We manage single-family homes, townhomes, and condos in the Sumter, SC area — primarily within 15 minutes of Shaw Air Force Base. Properties with 1-7 bedrooms are ideal. The property must be in good condition and free of any HOA restrictions that prohibit short-term rental.

For most properties, we can have your listing live within 2-3 weeks of signing. That includes professional photography, listing creation, pricing setup, and initial property preparation. First bookings typically come within the first week of going live. If there are items that need to be addressed before listing (furnishing, repairs, supplies), the timeline may extend slightly.

Yes, short-term rentals must be fully furnished and guest-ready. If your property is already furnished, we'll assess what meets our standards and what may need to be upgraded or added. If you're starting from scratch, we provide a detailed furnishing guide and can coordinate the setup process for you. The investment to furnish a 3-bedroom home typically ranges from $3,000 to $8,000 depending on what you already have.

The City of Sumter does not require a specific short-term rental permit. You will need a general Sumter business license (fees based on projected revenue) and registration with the South Carolina Department of Revenue for tax collection purposes. We walk every owner through this process during onboarding. If your property is in an HOA, you must verify that short-term rental is permitted under your CC&Rs before we can proceed.

Our management fee is a percentage of gross booking revenue. The exact rate depends on your property's projected revenue and is discussed during your free consultation. There are no hidden fees — our management percentage covers listing management, guest communication, pricing optimization, owner reporting, and operational coordination.

There is a one-time onboarding fee that covers professional photography, listing creation, initial property setup, and account configuration. The amount depends on the property and is discussed during your consultation. After onboarding, the only ongoing cost is the management percentage — we don't charge monthly minimums, admin fees, or technology fees. We can build this fee into the first few months of revenue as well.

We charge guests a cleaning fee on every booking as a separate line item. This fee covers the cost of professional turnover cleaning and consumable restocking between each guest stay. The cleaning fee is set based on your property's size and our cleaning vendor's rates. Any difference between what we collect and what we pay is transparent in your monthly report.

Booking platforms charge their own service fees. Airbnb currently charges hosts 15.5% of the booking subtotal. VRBO charges approximately 5%. These fees are deducted by the platform before the revenue reaches us — they are not additional charges from our company. We factor platform fees into our pricing strategy to maximize your net revenue.

Property maintenance and repairs are the financial responsibility of the owner. We coordinate all vendor dispatch and oversee the work. For non-emergency repairs over $300, we get your approval before proceeding. For emergencies that threaten guest safety or property integrity (burst pipe, AC failure, lock issue), we're authorized to spend up to $500 to resolve the issue immediately. All maintenance costs are itemized in your monthly report. If the issue was caused by the client we can proceed with other options prior to owners expense whether that be through insurance, damage deposit, or a mix.

Owner payouts are processed monthly, within 15 business days of each month's close. Payments are made via direct deposit (ACH) to your designated bank account. Each payout is accompanied by a detailed statement showing gross revenue, platform fees, cleaning costs, maintenance expenses, management fees, and your net payout.

Revenue varies based on property size, location, condition, and amenities. A well-managed 3-bedroom home near Shaw AFB can realistically gross $3,000 to $5,000 per month. We provide a free property analysis with projected revenue specific to your address and property specs — that's the best way to get a realistic estimate for your situation.

All bookings go through the platform's built-in verification system (Airbnb Verified ID, VRBO screening, etc.). We also review guest profiles, previous reviews, and communication patterns before confirming bookings. We set clear house rules on every listing and enforce them consistently. Our primary guest demographic near Shaw AFB — military TDY travelers — are among the most reliable and low-risk guests in the short-term rental industry.

We document property condition with photos during every turnover inspection. If damage occurs, we file claims through the booking platform's resolution center (Airbnb's AirCover provides up to $3 million in host damage protection). For damage beyond what the platform covers, we work with the guest directly and assist you with any insurance claims. Significant damage is rare — in our experience, military travelers are exceptionally respectful of properties.

We do — all of it. From the initial booking inquiry through checkout and review, every guest message is handled by our team. Guests receive professional, timely responses around the clock. You never need to interact with a guest unless you want to. Our average response time is under 15 minutes during business hours and under 1 hour during off-hours.

We work with trusted local cleaning professionals who are trained to our specific standards. Every turnover includes a full clean (kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, living areas, floors), fresh linens and towels, restocking of consumables (toilet paper, soap, coffee, etc.), and a quality inspection. We inspect after every clean to ensure the property meets our standards before the next guest arrives.

We have a local vendor network on call for emergencies. Plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and lock issues are handled immediately regardless of the hour. We respond to guest-reported emergencies within 1 hour and dispatch the appropriate vendor. You'll be notified of any significant issue, but we handle the resolution so you don't have to wake up at 2 AM to deal with a broken pipe.

Absolutely. Just let us know at least 30 days in advance and we'll block the calendar. We do ask that personal use be limited to a reasonable amount per year — excessive blocking reduces revenue, affects platform search ranking, and makes it harder to maintain consistent guest reviews.

Shaw Air Force Base is the primary demand driver for short-term rentals in Sumter. The base is home to over 5,400 active duty personnel and hosts multiple major commands including the Air Force's largest F-16 combat wing and the headquarters of U.S. Air Forces Central and U.S. Army Central. These commands generate a constant flow of Temporary Duty (TDY) travelers, PCS families in transition, contractors, and visiting personnel year-round. Shaw's on-base lodging has only 131 rooms — when those fill up, everyone needs off-base housing. That overflow is your revenue.

No, and this is one of Sumter's biggest advantages over vacation rental markets. Military operations run year-round. There is no off-season. TDY travel, exercises, deployments, and unit rotations happen in every month of the year. While there may be slight fluctuations, Sumter doesn't experience the dramatic seasonal swings that beach or mountain rental markets deal with.

The majority of guests near Shaw AFB are military members on TDY orders, PCS families in temporary housing, defense contractors, and military visitors. These guests are professional, employed by the federal government, and accountable to their chain of command. They pay with government travel charge cards, they follow rules, and they treat properties with respect. Military travelers are widely considered the ideal short-term rental guest demographic.

TDY-Ready is our standard for configuring managed properties to capture military Temporary Duty travel demand. It means your property is priced within local per diem lodging rates, equipped with the amenities TDY travelers need (fast WiFi, full kitchen, washer/dryer, workspace, parking), and managed to a standard that earns consistent 5-star reviews. We also maintain relationships with military lodging services and trip planners who coordinate group housing — giving your property access to demand that self-managed listings simply cannot reach.

Every other property management company in Sumter focuses on long-term residential leases — 12-month tenants, rent collection, evictions. We are the only company in Sumter dedicated exclusively to short-term rental management. We don't do long-term leases. We do Airbnb, VRBO, dynamic pricing, guest communication, turnover cleaning, and revenue optimization. It's all we do, and we do it specifically for the Shaw AFB market.

We operate on a month-to-month basis. If you're not satisfied with our performance, you can terminate with 30 days written notice. No penalties, no cancellation fees. We'll honor any existing guest reservations, provide a final accounting, and return all property access. We believe our results should earn your business every month.

Absolutely — many owners don't live in Sumter. That's exactly why people hire us. We handle everything on the ground: property setup, guest management, cleaning, maintenance, inspections, and emergencies. You receive a monthly report and direct deposit. You can check in anytime, but you never need to be physically present. We're your local team.