Grand Strand Property Management | Sea Star Realty

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Why entrust your beach home to Sea Star Realty?

    We have personally owned vacation rental properties here at the beach for over two decades and know property ownership firsthand from the homeowner’s perspective. We know what homeowners and guests alike expect and deserve. Our focus is quality over quantity.  We partner with discerning homeowners to establish achievable goals by setting optimum rental rates for every property and specific strategies to make your home a sought-after destination. With a select inventory of premier properties, we are able to provide the highest level of personalized service while maximizing rental income for our homeowner partners. 

Contact us today to get the service you deserve!

Explore our comprehensive owner services PDF guide!

Our Mission:

Maximizing homeowners rental income while servicing their property to the highest standards.

    Based in Garden City Beach, Sea Star Realty was founded by locals and is a family-operated property management company that welcomes you to visit us at our main office just a block off the beach. Our area of expertise is the South Grand Strand, which is where we live, work, and play because we love it here! The owners of Sea Star Realty are in the trenches daily and are committed to hard work, honesty, and integrity. We can’t imagine attempting to manage your home from afar, like some absentee business owners. Our reputation of high-quality, full-service property management was built from the ground up by our performance.

    You’ve made a great decision to own property along the beautiful, desirable South Carolina coast, and making lifetime memories of wonderful beach days at your home should be your top priority. But what about those times when you are not here at the beach to enjoy your home? Make the most of your investment by putting Sea Star Realty’s experienced team to work for you.  You can relax, we’ll take care of everything!  We are the trusted choice for your full-service property manager, with us it’s one-stop shopping from inspections to reservations and everything in between. Learn more about our services below:

Your peace of mind is just a phone call away 844-SEA-STAR

 

What differentiates Sea Star Realty?

Pioneers of Modern Management

    By being a small company, we offer a personal touch but spare no expense in resources that outpace our much larger competitors. All of our large competition tout managing several hundred properties as an advantage, but at Sea Star Realty, we focus on quality, not quantity. Nor are we the local complacent option that has been here for 50 years, practicing old-fashioned systems. These hopeless options inspired the creation of Sea Star Realty and we have raised the bar in the area! We are not the oldest option in the area, but we have been pioneers in bringing fresh new standards to the area for the benefit of our homeowners and guests alike. Although others have watched, learned, and are now imitating, we were the first to introduce and implement:​

  • Keyless Technology
  • Digital Contracts​
  • 3-D Virtual Tours
  • Guest App
  • Live Chat
  • Custom House Name Signs at every house
  • The highest level of Damage Protection with every reservation (non-optional)
  • Quality Linens with all rentals (non-optional)
  • Concierge Services - including free branded beach gear, grocery delivery, bellhop service
  • Booking Capability for Nightly Off-Season Reservations on our website
  • Minimum of 10% Deposit on All Reservations - no courtesy holds
      Sea Star Service

        We offer homeowners a wide range of services to help make the most out of their investment property. We have a knowledgeable, in-house staff dedicated to guest service, property management, housekeeping, maintenance, marketing, reservations, accounting, and more. We’re here to help with all aspects of your rental property. At the same time, we take pride in not excessively charging homeowners for services that should be covered by the management fee, and at Sea Star Realty they are! Unlike our competitors, we handle nearly all of our many services in-house to ensure the highest quality and best oversight, which is the most cost-efficient for our homeowners. Here's the full service you get with Sea Star Realty:

    • Affordable management fee
    • Departure cleaning fees and linens are paid by the guest, not the homeowner
    • No nickel and diming for minor maintenance issues – our homeowners are never charged for standard light bulbs, remote/smoke detector batteries, air filters, or credit card fees
    • No opt-in maintenance contracts are required
    • Discounted Bulk Rates for cable tv, Wi-Fi, pest control, and curbside garbage collection
    • No charge for off-season home inspections, inventory, winterization, or basic storm prep
    • For times when an outside vendor is needed, invoicing never includes a mark-up
    • Free owner portal for insight into bookings, monthly statements, work orders, and more
    • Homeowners are never expected to pay for any type of marketing of their property
    • Annual preparation of your home for the rental season, including free inventory report
    • Pet fees, which are mandatory for our pet-friendly homes, are always paid 100% to the homeowner
    • Routine property checks, even when your home is vacant, to catch issues early
    • Experienced staff inspectors personally check your home after every guest departure and cleaning service.
    • We enforce a strict set of housekeeping guidelines with the highest expectations
    • Damage Protection ($10k contents, $100k liability) that eliminates the homeowners’ exposure and from having to pay for guest damages
    • Strict Rental Rules that are enforced for both our homeowners’ and guests’ protection
    • The same cleaning crew will be assigned to your home every week, who will know the specific details and setup of your property
    • In-House Commercial Grade Linen and Laundry Facility
      • We keep a new stock of pillows, mattress pads, and bed bug mattress covers for times when replacement is necessary
    • Maintenance, including 24-hour emergency on-call service
    • In-house pool, hot tub, and landscape maintenance; we are the only property manager in the area to provide these services in-house which enables the best oversight and is the most cost-efficient for our homeowners
    • SC Certified Pool Operators on staff
    • Fleet of service and maintenance vehicles that are equipped with all the tools and supplies needed for whole home care
    • Severe weather procedures to protect your home at no charge
      • If freezing temperatures are expected, we take measures to protect against costly frozen pipes
      • If a tropical storm is forecasted, we secure all loose items outside your home and inspect post-storm at no charge
      • If more involved measures are needed to prepare for or clean up after a severe storm, we can assist with that too at a reasonable, no mark-up cost for materials and labor
    • Keyless Entry System
      • Affordable convenience of keyless entry locks and the security of a digital footprint showing all entries into your home
    • Our track record is higher occupancy and rental income than the competition
    • We have proof in the numbers and client references that are eager to verify our abilities
    • Streamlined, easy-to-understand statement - no surprise charges
    • Detailed accounting of rental revenue that is tracked with leading property management software 
      • Statements are provided no later than the 5th of each month, along with payment of rental income
    • Tax filing for homeowners to meet South Carolina’s requirements for state, local, and accommodations taxes on short-term rentals.  As part of our monthly accounting, we collect and pay those taxes for our homeowners
    • We are compliant with all applicable state and local laws that apply to real estate, property management, and rentals to protect our homeowners’ investment
    • Concierge services available for our guests and homeowners
    • Personalized service and direct access to the local owners of Sea Star Realty – you will have our personal cell numbers and we can be reached any time
    • We hold the highest regard for our clients and their homes, equally; all of our properties and their owners receive equal treatment, from advertising & signage to complimentary linens & departure maid service
      Marketing

        Vacation rentals are currently the fastest growing segment of tourism and competition has never been fiercer, so there’s no time for complacency.  Sea Star Realty implements proven marketing strategies that are analyzed and designed by a leading firm that specializes in the vacation rental industry resulting in increased bookings and net revenue for our homeowners.  Although working with a professional marketing firm requires a substantial investment, the level of expertise and proven results are second to none, as is our commitment to homeowners.  Using both local and worldwide industry experts, we get maximum, unmatched exposure for your home by being present anywhere a traveler would look. We are constantly working and investing to build our brand, which widens our audience, all of which benefit our homeowners. NEVER are our homeowners asked or expected to pay extra for any marketing of their property. 

    • User-Friendly Website with 24/7 Secure Online Booking
      • This website can be accessed effectively regardless of the users device -  mobile phone, tablet, or desktop computer
    • Professional Photography of every home, including drone images
    • 3-D Virtual Tour created for every home and featured on our website for guests to get a true feel of the property, its floor plan, and unique features.  Proven to drive more bookings!
    • Search Engine Optimization (SEO) with dedicated budget that is monitored and adjusted with travel trends
    • Pay-Per-Click Advertising (PPC) campaigns
    • Dedicated Budget for Google Ads & Bing Ads (AdWords)
    • Online Travel Agency Listings (OTA) that reach Millions
      • We use a multi-channel approach that allows us to reach more renters and better keep our units booked 
      • Homeowners never have to opt-in or pay extra fees for this exposure
      • Premier Partner status with VRBO positions our listings at the forefront of their site  
      • In addition to VRBO, your home will be marketed on other popular vacation rental sites like AirBnb, Google Travel, and Visit Myrtle Beach
    • Monthly eblast campaigns to Sea Star Realty's evergrowing email list that include loyal repeat renters
    • Social Media Marketing - Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest
    • Large database of potential guests that include website visitors, past renters, and social media followers
    • Attractive Custom Yard Sign featuring the house name
    • Print Brochures

     
     Guest Experiences

       We understand how important vacation is for our guests and happy guests become loyal repeat renters who vacation with us year after year. Repeat renters love and care for their vacation home. Here are some of the additional services we provide to enhance our guests’ experience:

    • Free beach gear provided. Only Sea Star Realty guests don't have to worry about packing beach gear or buying while on vacation. All house reservations include a $250 credit for beach rental gear of choice.  From gas grills to beach chairs are available. Items are high quality, branded with the Sea Star Realty logo, and delivered free of charge.  
    • Concierge services available include grocery stocking & bell hop service. It's 'one-stop shopping for guests at Sea Star Realty!
    • We only use upgraded resort quality linens, including plusher oversized towels and higher thread count sheets than our competitors offer and guests love it. Linens are complimentary for our homeowners.
    • We use the latest smart technology, our vacation properties are updated with keyless entry to make check-in seamless, safe, and convenient. Our guests love bypassing the dreaded check-in process.
    • Easiest, convenient reservation options for guests that include 24-hour online secure booking through our website, toll-free line direct to one of our local vacation planners, direct email to our rental department, or Live Chat with us through our website during or after business hours. Rental contracts are digital with simple payment forms accepted including credit cards, e-checks, and even redeeming reward points.
    • User-Friendly Guest App for streamlined communications including answers to frequently asked questions, area information, reminders, and more - all conveniently at our guests fingertips.
     
     Our Partners

       Sea Star Realty has been recognized by some of the best in the travel industry and we are honored to be an affiliated partner with these companies. Being hand-selected by these organizations is a testament to our hard work.

    • Homes & Villas by Marriott International only works with carefully curated property management companies, including Sea Star Realty, to ensure that every home listed is professionally-managed and meets the high standards expected of Marriott International.  Select Sea Star Realty homes/vacation rentals are featured on Homes & Villas by Marriott International. Guests can earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy™ points at Sea Star Realty home rentals by booking on Homes & Villas by Marriott. This opens our homes up to millions of Marriot Bonvoy™ members! Sea Star Realty was chosen due to our rigorous standards, and we are honored to represent such exclusive properties.

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    • American Express Travel only works with the top vacation rental management companies to introduce a curated offering of homes to their Card Members. This partnership enables Sea Star Realty to capture a new set of valuable guests, Platinum Card® Members, who are highly interested in booking premium home rentals. This win-win relationship exposes our rental inventory to a high-end pool of travelers while providing these travelers the ability to use and earn American Express Membership Rewards® Points for stays with at Sea Star Realty properties.

      

    • Premier Host is an invite-only program that recognizes property managers who consistently deliver great traveler experience.  Premier Hosts have a special designation badge and improved search position. 

     

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