What to Look for in a Charleston Investment Property

Updated February 9, 2023

If you're considering getting into the rental property business, it can be hard to know if you have your eye on a suitable property. Even if you've been a landlord for a while and are ready to grow your portfolio, it's not always easy to know a good investment versus a bad one. 

The wrong investment property can be more expensive than it's worth: you'll lose money on a property that doesn't generate enough income to pay the monthly expenses, plus leave some profit in your pocket. 

When choosing a Charleston investment property, make sure you pick a gem—rather than a lemon—by keeping several critical things in mind.

It's Not Worth It to Force It

You could have a property drop in your lap. It might seem like the perfect opportunity for an investment property—but it will pay off to dig deeper before you list it for rent. 

Not every property makes a good investment property. When analyzing a potential investment, the following things could be signs that the property will never pay off for you:

• The location could be in the wrong area to attract quality tenants. 

• It could need expensive repairs to make it "rent-ready." 

• The property taxes or other costs could make it impossible to recover your money with the monthly rental price. 

You won't be happy with your investment income if you force the wrong property to be a rental home. So, how can you know if a property can work as a rental? Run the numbers.

Numbers Don't Lie

Math might not be your favorite thing, but there's one math concept we can all appreciate: numbers don't lie.

The best way to know if a potential investment property is a good idea is to run the numbers.

You've made a bad investment if your property never generates income. However, keep in mind: a rental property is a long-term investment! You won't make quick cash on an investment property. Being a landlord means playing the long game to earn money—monthly—toward a long-term financial goal.

With that in mind, you don't want to lose out on your investment in the short term, either. When running the numbers, don't forget to factor in every expense involved with managing an investment property in Charleston. Common expenses include:

• Price of the property 

• Property taxes

• Insurance costs

• Maintenance costs (both routine maintenance and emergencies)

• The property's value

• How much you can reasonably charge for rent

• Property management fees (if you choose to outsource)

Making sure you'll make a profit on an investment property becomes a little more complicated when you realize everything that goes into evaluating homes from a business perspective. You must inspect potential assets like a landlord rather than a personal purchase.

Think like a Landlord

You might find a property that you would love to live in—but if it's not appealing to renters, you won't find tenants to make it a worthwhile investment. On the other hand, you might also find a potential investment property that you would never consider for yourself—but it might make an excellent rental property. 

Managing a rental property is a business: to be a successful landlord, you must think like one. That means taking a step back from your personal preferences when buying an investment property and putting "renter wants" in front of yours.

Property management companies recommend:

• Considering properties that offer amenities that renters love in the Charleston area.

• Comparing the property to other similar properties in the area.

If renters will enjoy your property, that's far more important than finding or renovating a home to your personal tastes. It's also important to apply these next two critical aspects of thinking like a landlord.

1. Choose Expenses Wisely

It might be tempting to load your investment property with all of the bells and whistles you have (or want) in your own home. However, spending too much on renovations can be an expensive mistake. 

Thinking like a landlord means knowing the right upgrades to help you make more money from your Charleston, SC, rental property. Unnecessary updates might look nice—but you might not be able to charge enough rent to justify the costs of the updates. For example, you might like granite countertops in the kitchen, but it's crucial to assess whether that's a hot commodity in terms of what the rental market will bear.

2. Use Expert Resources

You don't need help managing your home—but you're not trying to generate income from where you live. Thinking like a landlord means knowing when you need expert help to choose the best investment property. 

Expert property managers in Charleston know how to run a rental analysis and advise you about a potential rental property. Your property manager can also recommend rental-appropriate upgrades to help you find the best tenants and make the most money from your investment property. 

If you're not sure to start, try a Google search for "residential property management companies near me" and reach out to the top companies that pop up. When choosing a property manager, make sure they provide the services you need within your budget to make sure those numbers you ran still show a profit.

One of the Best Property Management Companies Charleston, SC, Offers Is the Best Investment

Owning profitable rental properties in Charleston requires a variety of skills to make money in this business. Successful business owners know it's okay to ask for help when outside their area of expertise. Therefore, hiring a property manager is an excellent business decision when it's time to buy your first (or your next) real estate investment property.

Charleston Property Company knows the local rental market! With our experience and expert property management services, we can help you run a rental analysis and evaluate all the numbers on a potential investment property. We understand what renters want in a rental home and how to choose a property that's a worthwhile investment.

So before you invest in a property, contact us for a Free Rental Analysis!