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How to Turn a House Into a Long-Term Rental Instead of Selling It

Renting out real estate can be a great form of passive income, helping to bring in extra money with minimal effort. That said, before you can start collecting easy cash, you need to put in some time and financial investment. Careful planning will help ensure a successful long-term rental property. This guide provides tips on how to get started, covering everything from finding a property to marketing it to potential tenants.

Get an understanding of local real estate laws

Before you become a landlord, take the time to educate yourself about your area's rental laws. Knowing the responsibilities of a landlord will help prepare you for the job. NOLO offers a roundup of landlord-tenant laws on a state-by-state basis. Also, make sure you understand the tax implications of renting out property. This will be taxable income and you should prepare your tax paperwork accordingly.

Find the right property in the perfect location

You don't want to struggle to find tenants. Choosing a property in an attractive location will make your life a lot easier as a landlord. Beachside places are a hot commodity and worth investing in, for example. You can trust a local realtor to help you find the perfect property. For help getting a place in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, try The Boyd Team. They are local specialists with insider insights into the area.

Add upgrades to make the house more marketable

Once you have your property, consider what you can do to make it more attractive to potential tenants. If the interior walls are chipped and peeling, give them a refresh with peel-and-stick wallpaper. You can order customizable wallpaper for your home online and, since it's custom printed, you won't have to worry about your design being out of stock. Peel and stick wallpaper is easy to apply, as you can reposition it as needed.

Create compelling advertising material

To attract high-quality tenants, you need to market your rental property accordingly. Photographs are everything. Avail provides tips for taking pictures that will help you rent out your place fast. Pointers include taking photos when the unit is clutter-free and clean, scheduling photo shoots during the daytime when there's plenty of light, and paying attention to decorative details like throw pillows.

Vet your tenants thoroughly

Once you start getting rental applications, don't simply settle on the first one. It's important to screen your tenants carefully. You can check an individual's credit reports, run criminal background checks, and ask for references, for example. Just make sure that any questions you ask are consistent with Fair Housing regulations. For example, you should be asking all tenants the same questions.

Create professional rental contracts

Found the perfect tenant? Fantastic. Now, it's time to create a good rental contract. Create a comprehensive lease agreement that includes the names of all tenants, occupancy limits, rent amount and how it's to be paid, and terms of tenancy. You should also cover topics like repairs and maintenance. If you've never created a rental contract before, it's advisable to have a local lawyer help you with this step.

Figure out how you'll manage the property long-term

A long-term rental property is largely a source of passive income. However, it still requires some work. For example, as the landlord, you are legally responsible to ensure the property is safe and liveable. This means taking care of standard maintenance and repairs. If you aren't interested in doing such tasks yourself, you can hire a property management company. They will take care of the day-to-day duties.

A rental property can be a great way to make some extra money—if you set it up correctly. The above guide provides the information you need to get off on the right foot.

Learn more about buying, selling, and renting properties successfully via the blog.

The Must Have Components Of an Optimal Bathroom

The bathroom (or bathrooms) is one of the most important spaces in your home, as it is the center of your self-care and grooming routines. There are so many uses for bathrooms, and designing the perfect bathroom is often harder than it may seem. There are some things that can cause major problems down the line if not done properly, and there are other things that simply should not be done when renovating a bathroom. (*Ahem, carpet.) As realtors, we see many different styles of bathrooms on any given day, and there are some features that offer a lot more value to homeowners than others. Heated towel racks? Bidets? There are many things you can do to design your bathroom the way you want it. However, there are many components of bathrooms that actually turn out to be design flaws, simply because they do not belong in bathrooms. This post is going to take a look at bathroom design techniques and highlight some important things to think about when designing a new bathroom or buying a home.

There are a few angles from which you should consider a bathroom’s design. Firstly, you should want a bathroom that is conducive to cycling through your daily routine quickly. We are often in a hurry in the mornings and the evenings, and having a bathroom that supports your daily routine in a timely manner to where you can maximize your sleep is very important. Secondly, you should pick things that are lasting, as changes can be costly and it is much better to pony up and do things right the first time rather than skimping on expenses and ultimately needing to redo things in the near future.

Whether you already own a home and are looking to renovate it or you are currently shopping in the market for a new home, this post is for you. We will take a look at the most important aspects of designing a bathroom and then offer up a few examples of what NOT to do, to make sure you wind up with a bathroom that truly suits your needs when you close on a new house or finish renovations on your current house. 

Keep in mind that renovations can be pricey, and you never know what you will find when you begin to peel away at layers of the onion. For this reason, if you are in the homebuying market, it is often best to buy a home that has bathrooms that already appeal to you rather than planning on reinventing the bathrooms once you buy the house. Sometimes renovation efforts lead to exposing other peoples’ patchwork jobs that lay beneath the surface, and you’re left trying to replace rotten floorboards and asbestos filled walls that would have otherwise survived if you had not interfered with them.

Determine the Optimal Layout of Your Bathroom

If you are entirely redoing a bathroom or are in the market for a new home, one major thing to consider is the layout of the bathroom and how it suits you and your family. For example, some bathrooms are all-purpose, while other rooms have a separate water closet where the toilet is located. Some bathrooms have a shower and a bathtub, some bathrooms combine the shower and the bathtub, and some bathrooms only have one or the other. Some bathrooms are Jack and Jill style, meaning they have a long counter with a double sink. Here are the major benefits and drawbacks of each of those styles. Note that these styles are not mutually exclusive, and up to 3 of them can coexist in a bathroom.

Bathrooms with Separate Water Closets

 This concept had become pretty rare in the United States but has recently begun to catch on again. A water closet is essentially a room with nothing but a toilet. It is separate from the bathroom, but usually right next door. The sink is usually located in the bathroom and not in the water closet. This type of bathroom setup is very beneficial to people who only have one bathroom in their home, as the toilet can still be accessed while someone else is bathing or showering without intruding on their privacy. 

If you are renovating a bathroom, this style would require the creation of a wall and another door, making it a more challenging bathroom layout to create. Nevertheless, it is not impossible and offers the very tangible benefit of access to both of the bathroom’s main features without sacrificing privacy!

Bathrooms With a Separate Bathtub and Shower

This is a fairly rare setup and is normally only found in large master bathrooms. Having both a shower and a bathtub (that are not a combination shower/bathtub) is overkill for most situations, and unless you and someone else plan on bathing at the same time separately, there is really little use for this bathroom layout. Some people do like having their own shower that they do not need to share, but this is really impractical in most situations – especially if you have limited space.

Bathrooms With a Combination Shower and Bathtub

This is one of the most popular styles for bathing appliance layouts because of its versatility. Most people prefer to shower on a daily basis, which makes having a shower pretty important. Baths take longer than showers, and not everyone has 30 minutes to sit in the bathtub before they head to work on a Tuesday! Having a shower makes your morning routine efficient, and the idea of not having a shower even comes off as weird to most people. Having a bathtub is also great for many reasons, though, as baths provide great relaxation when you have the time, and they are also much better for infants and small children than showers are. While you can shower a baby or a toddler, it is much easier and safer to use a bathtub. Having a combination shower and bathtub offers you the best of both worlds. 

Bathrooms With Either a Shower or a Bathtub

This layout is probably the most common, and usually it is a shower that we are talking about and not a bathtub. Not everyone needs both and going all in on a nice shower or bathtub can be more advantageous than finding a combination offering. If you do not have children and do not care about the relaxation that a bath offers, you probably do not have a need for a bathtub. In this case, you’re better off going all in on a nice shower, which is going to be more spacious than a bathtub to stand in and can look much sleeker. If you already have a bathroom with a shower and you are designing a secondary bathroom, having a bathtub might be more suiting. In this case, you now have both a bathtub and a shower in your home, but you are not trying to squeeze them both into the same room. 

Jack and Jill Style Bathrooms

This style of bathroom refers to the countertops and sinks rather than the showers, bathtubs, and toilets. Jack and Jill bathrooms are the marquis style of bathroom for couples, as there are two sinks on either two different countertops or one large countertop. As the name “Jack and Jill” implies, each person has their own countertop section and their own space, eliminating the need for arguments over moving one’s partner’s products or both people trying to brush their teeth at the same time. While Jack and Jill style bathrooms are a really great design for couples, they are unnecessary for people who live alone, and they also require large amounts of space to fit two sinks and two countertops.

Decide What Type of Flooring You Want in Your Bathroom

If you are going for a full remodel of the bathroom or are in the market for a new house, you will want to be sure that you think about the type of flooring that is in your bathroom or bathrooms. The vast majority of the time, bathrooms will either have tile or laminate flooring. This is especially popular because they are not absorbent and they are easy to clean. Bathrooms are naturally full of bacteria, and these bacteria can live much more easily on real hardwood floors and worse, carpeted floors. While carpet is an uncommon bathroom flooring option, some people do opt for it. Some people love the feeling of soft carpet on their feet after a shower, but you need to realize this carpet will have a very short lifespan and must be cleaned very frequently. 

Adhesive flooring tiles have become a favorite for homeowners in recent years, as they are relatively inexpensive, range widely in quality, and can be easily replaced if the need to do so ever arises. You will want to make sure that whatever flooring option you select is not absorbent, as bathroom floors get very wet very frequently. Carpet will begin to smell, wood will rot, and some types of tile will eventually wear away after holding too much water. 

Some of these options are cheaper and easier than others, and if you plan on installing the flooring yourself, a couple of the options are entirely out of the question. There are many different kinds of laminate flooring on the market these days that provide for a quality floor at a fraction of the price of other flooring materials. They can also be installed easily without the need to call a flooring professional!

Consider the Types of Bathtubs or Showers that You Want

We have already talked about deciding whether you want a bathtub, shower, or both in your bathroom, but you now also need to consider what those bathtubs and showers look like. Do you want a shower with a rounded porcelain or fiberglass base that traps the water? Or would you like the floor of the shower to match your bathroom floor identically? Do you want all glass walls or a curtain? Do you want a stand-alone bathtub or one that is attached and caulked to the wall? Questions like these determine the layout and style of your bathroom, and most experts recommend getting the big pieces figured out before you start to worry about smaller details, like towel colors and wallpaper themes. Colors can always be changed and updated, but large pieces like showers, bathtubs, cabinets, and toilets often need to be ordered in advance and can take a while to arrive…especially with the current supply chain shortages that the world is experiencing.

Ensure Plenty of Storage and Counter Space For the Whole Family

We mentioned this in our post on designing your dream kitchen, and the same principles apply here. All of the big things, like showers, bathtubs, toilets, and sinks are very important and make of the bulk of the bathroom designing process, but there is one other major part to think about! You want to make sure that you have ample storage and counter space in your bathroom, as there are a lot of things that get stowed in a bathroom and each person that primarily uses the bathroom will have their own space and storage needs.

To determine the proper amount of storage and counter space for a bathroom, you first must think about how many people will be regularly using that bathroom. Is it a guest bathroom, or is it the master? Will you share a bathroom with the whole family, thus needing space for your things AND your children’s things? Once you figure out how many users the bathroom will have and how much space those people will need, you can move onto actually creating ways to have that space. 

Jack and Jill sinks, like we mentioned above, are a great way to ensure enough space. If you are sharing the bathroom with your children and partner, perhaps your children can have one sink while you and your partner share the other. Additionally, think about including a linen closet in the design of the bathroom, as towels and wash cloths take up a significant amount of space. Further, try to maximize drawer and cabinet space below the sink, as drawers and cabinets play different roles and fit different items. Going with all drawers might not be a great idea, as while they are great for organizing peoples’ things, they do not allow for the storage of larger items, like rolls of paper towels.

Really when it is all said and done, you want to think about storage space in a bathroom in a similar way to how you think about storage space in a kitchen. It is never a bad thing to have ample storage space in your bathroom, and you will always be able to find things to fill up that space with. 

Thank you for reading our blog, Catch the Wave. Hopefully this post helped you to think about some of the big decisions that face you when you look to redesign your bathroom or buy a new home. The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in the house, and having a nice bathroom can be essential and crucial to your morning and evening routines. A Bathroom designed to make your daily routines as easy as possible can save minutes or hours per week, which is time you would have otherwise lost! 

 If you visit Myrtle Beach or any other place in South Carolina and fall in love, reach out to us for help. We at The Boyd Team are always here to help you figure out whether Myrtle Beach is your next home or not, and we are committed to helping you find the right property for your needs and dreams. Any question that you have about moving to the area and finding your dream home by the beach is our pleasure to answer. Feel free to send us an email at eddie@boydteam.com or text or call us at (843) 222-8566, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Being true natives of the Grand Strand and Horry County and with over 25 years of experience in the local real estate market, whether buying or selling, we can help you make your dreams a reality.  

No One Knows The Grand Strand Better! Trust, Knowledge, Experience, Professionalism, You Can Count On!

Written by Greg

6 Tips for Using Plants When Staging Your Home

Feature image.

Alt-tag: a table with chairs and plants.

If you think that home plants have nothing to do with how your house will sell, think again. Everyone would agree that small details matter when staging your home. However, many people forget that plants play an essential role in house or apartment decoration. Namely, there is an unwritten rule that every room deserves at least one plant. Until you have sold your home, you might be worried about your furniture arrangement. Furthermore, in case you are concerned about using plants when staging your home, check these six suggestions. They will undoubtedly help you understand the immense influence of plants on your home.

1. Attract buyers with photos

When potential buyers look at photos of properties online, what draws their attention first is undoubtedly the appearance. By positioning your plants in the right places, the shoppers will get a sense of size. Namely, if you put your plants higher, it might seem like your room is taller and bigger. If your room doesn’t seem light enough, try putting plants on shelves or tables to make the whole room appear lighter, even if there is no light.

2. Place matters if using plants when staging your home

If you have thought that the position of your plants doesn't matter, be sure that it does. Plants require a sunlit place. However, apart from providing them with lots of sunshine, you might want to think about your plants' most attractive and stylish positions. If you want to learn more about using plants when staging and decorating your home, you might need to consider certain rules. For instance, in case you like the boho style, there are specific ways of decorating your home with plants. Furthermore, you might try putting a large potted palm on the sides of your door to emphasize it.

Caption: The position of your plants plays an important role in staging a home.

Alt-tag: a room décor made by using plants when staging your home.

If you have a fireplace, try putting a flower pot on a mantel to emphasize the fireplace as the room's central point. When trying to introduce freshness into your room, try putting a small flower on the night table. If you have a monochromatic style in your bedroom, you might want to add a big, bushy plant to add some color to your room.

If you happen to have a backyard, try to use it to attract buyers. You might want to take care of the lawn, plant more flowers and maintain the garden well. If you want to be creative with your backyard and step out of the ordinary, consider implementing some interesting ideas to use your backyard the best you can. Many homebuyers prefer outdoor greenery apart from having a bunch of home plants.

3. Pick unusual pots

Even though your plants look beautiful and impressive, having an uncommon container makes a huge difference. Huge or colorful pots can make your plants look more substantial. Try to refrain from using the plastic container in which your plant was bought. Namely, they look cheap and usually their colors are not suitable. What you don't want is to make your plants look unimportant.

When preparing your home for sale, apart from taking care of your plants and greenery, there are other ways you can get ready to sell your property. From landscaping your yard to decluttering your house, take various aspects of preparation into account.

Likewise, don't forget to prepare for the moving process that is to come. Many people forget that they will have to move once their property is sold. Thus, consult relocation professionals such as Orange Mover and make sure you book a suitable moving team. It’s best to be ready in due time.

Caption: If using plants when staging your home, try to opt for unusual and eye-catching pots.

Alt-tag: an unusual vase with flowers.

4. Bring the greenery inside

If you happen to live in an urban and busy place, introducing greenery to your home might bring you closer to nature. It is what many people who live in urban places might miss very much. In cases where you already have a yard or a garden, bringing the outside in might draw attention to your splendid garden or yard. Many people opt for moving to the countryside since that brings them closer to nature.

Namely, moving to a new place is never easy - especially if you are making a long-distance journey, such as moving from SC to FL. First of all, this process requires thorough preparation. When you decide to leave SC for good, you might need to hire professional interstate movers in Florida. If you have thought that local moving is challenging and time-consuming, bear in mind that moving to a new state is undoubtedly even more difficult. You need a team of professionals who will make your interstate relocation smooth. Everyone expects not to worry about their goods, and they rely on experts to pull off their relocation. Having a stress-free move is a dream that can indeed come true.

5. Don’t use unhealthy plants

Buying plants from a supermarket or outlet might seem like a good idea. However, you might want to buy plants from reliable and experienced sellers. Checking if the roots look healthy might be a good test. With larger plants, this might seem a bit more challenging. In this case, you can try to check its leaves and stems. Healthy plants should not have yellow or dry leaves. If you take care of all these things, your plants will grow correctly and will be healthy in the long run.

6. Pick plants that are useful

If you don't want your plants only to be beautiful, try to make them useful. Namely, you might try adding some herbs that would be welcome in the kitchen. They are functional and edible and would make a significant and innovative idea for your kitchen. Furthermore, when it comes to bathroom problems, using ferns that love humidity might help reduce condensation quickly.

Caption: Apart from their appearance, plants’ usefulness should also be taken into account.

Alt-tag: herbs and spices in jars.

Final thoughts

Selecting house plants and decorating your house with them is a terrific idea to stage your home for new buyers. Namely, plants create an expensive and out-of-the-ordinary appearance. Using plants when staging your home might help you attract buyers and give you fantastic ideas on how to decorate your new future home. If you think about whether it is a good idea to stage your home, do not have second thoughts. Having plants is both healthy and stylish.

META DESCRIPTION: In case you want to know more about using plants when staging your home for sale, check these pieces of advice. 

KW: using plants when staging your home

https://pixabay.com/photos/furniture-table-chairs-1840463/

https://pixabay.com/photos/shelves-carpet-geometric-pattern-4032134/

https://pixabay.com/photos/spices-jars-herbs-herbs-and-spices-2548653/

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Things to Think About When Designing Your Dream Kitchen

If you think about it, the kitchen is one of the most used rooms in the house. It is often one of the first rooms that you walk through when you enter a home, it is the focal point of three meals every day, and it is the center of countless other family activities. You start your day with a coffee here and end your day with a nice nightcap. Since it is such an important space, it only makes sense that you invest in making it the best space possible! Many people fantasize about a dream kitchen, and having one is truly a feeling unlike any other. 

While every house has its limitations, odds are that building your dream kitchen, or at least something close to it, is absolutely attainable. This post will highlight the most important parts of a glamorous kitchen, reminding you of the most crucial elements to think about when buying a new home or remodeling your current home’s kitchen.

Selecting Your Appliances and Where to Put Them

The appliances that you have are some of the most important pieces to your kitchen. Thinking about the style of each appliance, the finish of each appliance, and the places where they are positioned is key to designing your dream kitchen.

Firstly, you need to think about what appliances you want in your kitchen. There are the staple items, like a refrigerator and freezer, an oven and stove, and a microwave. However, there are many more after that! Do you want a dishwasher? What about a mixer? Blender? The small appliances are where you get a lot more wiggle room. It feels like a dishwasher is an essential these days, but there are plenty of things that are debatable and deserve a bit of contemplation.

Secondly, you need to think about the finishes. Do you want to go old school with all white? Do you want to opt for early 2000’s with all black? What about hopping on the current trend of stainless steel? All of these are solid options, and you may even choose to look for appliances in yet another color. One large perk of stainless steel is that they match just about any other color in your kitchen, meaning that they will fit in just fine with any other small appliances that you put in your kitchen.

Once you’ve figured out what you want and what color you want it to be, you need to think about the positioning of it within your kitchen. Typically, you want to think about the kitchen triangle. That is, you want the stove, fridge, and sink to form a triangle where you can easily turn around in circles to move from space to space while cooking. Beyond that though, you need to think about where to put the dishwasher, any countertop appliances, the trash can, and everything else.

There is a lot more to the appliances than just these few points, but this is a great beginning point. Once you have these few things figured out, you are well on your way to getting your dream kitchen in order!

Deciding What Type of Flooring You Want in Your Kitchen

If you are going for a full remodel of the kitchen or are in the market for a new house, thinking about the type of flooring you’d like to have is a very important and often overlooked part of the designing process. While carpet is an uncommon kitchen option, some people do opt for it. Other flooring types, like hardwood, laminate, synthetic wood, and linoleum tile all offer advantages and disadvantages, and considering what you want to have is an important step towards having the kitchen of your dreams.

Some of these options are cheaper and easier than others, and if you plan on installing the flooring yourself, a couple of the options are entirely out of the question. There are many different kinds of laminate flooring on the market these days that provide for a quality floor at a fraction of the price of other flooring materials. They can also be installed easily without the need to call a flooring professional!

Planning Your Kitchen’s Layout and Vibe

Planning your kitchen’s layout depends heavily on the function you intend on your kitchen having. Will your kitchen be strictly for cooking? Will you eat in it? Will you host events in it? All of these functions, and more, determine what your kitchen ought to look like. These days, the open kitchen concept is extremely popular, as it enables both social environments and effective cooking practices at the same time.

To some, an open concept is a must have kitchen element. Especially as living spaces have gotten smaller over the years, creating a room that serves multiple purposes is almost always a positive. A kitchen designed with an open concept allows the living areas, dining areas, and cooking spaces to work symbiotically and create synergy. Connecting all of these spaces with an open concept helps you to cook and do other things at the same time, like hosting, supervising children, and serving food.

Beyond just the open concept, there are other important factors to consider. Do you want an island, or regular counter spaces along the walls? Do you want the kitchen to take up a long wall, a corner, a full rectangle, or a full room? Do you want the appliances on the window side or the interior side? All of these layout components are crucial to consider when drawing up the layout of your dream kitchen. 

Ensuring Plenty of Storage and Counter Space

Picking the appliances that you want and putting them in the layout that you want is the brunt of the work that goes into designing your dream kitchen but ensuring that you have plenty of storage and counter space is paramount. You can have all the best dishes, small appliances, and silverware in the world, but it doesn’t mean anything if you don’t have the necessary space to store them! 

It is important to keep storage space at the front of your mind during every step of the kitchen designing process. There are some really creative ways to implement storage space naturally into your kitchen, and honestly the more space you can have, the better! Think about collapsing shelves, hidden drawers, and other methods that use space that would otherwise be left empty.

On a similar note, having plentiful counter space can really come in handy. This becomes especially clear over the holidays when you run out of places to put trays of food! Counter space serves so many purposes and having as much counter space as possible is usually a good goal to have when designing your dream kitchen. This is where an island can come in handy, too! A center island in your kitchen is the perfect combination of storage space and counter space, and it goes where there would typically be nothing but empty floor. Islands can be extremely stylish and can serve as a place to do food prepping, eat breakfast, do homework, and more. The storage under an island is also fantastic for storing countertop appliances that you use less frequently, like a pasta maker or a mixer. 

Thank you for reading our blog, Catch the Wave. Hopefully this post helped you to think about some of the most important elements to consider when designing your dream kitchen. Again, the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house, and designing it with all of the right things in mind is important to ensure its peak appeal. property values fluctuate a lot, and we do not ever advise buying a home just for the sake of watching its value increase. If you are buying a home, you can look for one that already has all of the components that you want and need without having to even design it!

 If you visit Myrtle Beach or any other place in South Carolina and fall in love, reach out to us for help. We at The Boyd Team are always here to help you figure out whether Myrtle Beach is your next home or not, and we are committed to helping you find the right property for your needs and dreams. Any question that you have about moving to the area and finding your dream home by the beach is our pleasure to answer. Feel free to send us an email at eddie@boydteam.com or text or call us at (843) 222-8566, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Being true natives of the Grand Strand and Horry County and with over 25 years of experience in the local real estate market, whether buying or selling, we can help you make your dreams a reality.  

No One Knows The Grand Strand Better! Trust, Knowledge, Experience, Professionalism, You Can Count On!

Written by Greg

Best Things to do in Myrtle Beach in April

Winter is long gone, and one of the best months to visit Myrtle Beach is upon us! April is by far one of the best months to visit Myrtle Beach, as the shoulder season is in full swing. The weather has heated up to a comfortable level at this point, but the massive crowds have not yet arrived. This is because Myrtle Beach is largely a family vacation destination, and school is still in session! It will be a couple of months until families begin to make their treks down to South Carolina's best beaches. Visiting while the crowds are minimal is one of the best ways to enjoy the Grand Strand, as the lines and wait times at all of the best attractions and restaurants are virtually non-existent. This post is going to break out some of the best things to do in Myrtle Beach in April, and you should listen up whether this is your first time visiting, you are an annual visitor, or you are a full-time resident! As if that isn't enough, we will end by detailing a few reasons why April is actually one of the best months to visit Myrtle Beach!

1.     Celebrate Easter At One of Myrtle Beach's Best Restaurants (Or On a Resort!)

We mentioned in the introduction that April is one of the best times to visit Myrtle Beach because the area is still in the middle of its shoulder season, and crowds are diminished as school is still in session and families stay home. Well, the exception to this is certainly Easter week, as many schools around the east coast have the week off! Spending Easter break at Myrtle Beach is a pretty common thing for families that like to visit the Grand Strand, and this is the one week of the spring that things almost feel like they do in the summer. 

This should not deter you from coming, though! The area does a fantastic job of hosting its guests for Easter, which is further evidenced by the large number of families that make the trip here every April. Restaurants and resorts host delicious Easter breakfasts, brunches, and dinners, and the weather is warm enough to explore the area or relax on the beach after you eat. While the larger crowds may seem like a deterrent at first, they do a lot to wake the area up from its winter slumber and open up the offering of the best Myrtle Beach activities!

2.     Catch a Myrtle Beach Pelicans Baseball Game

The beginning of April marks the beginning of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans' season, and this is not something you want to overlook! The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are the city's minor league baseball team, and this squad does a great job of making the game of baseball fun to watch as a family. Friends of ours at The Present Perspective ranked attending a Myrtle Beach Pelicans game as one of the best things to do in Myrtle Beach, regardless of the time of year, and we could not agree more! Since they are only a minor league team, tickets are remarkably cheap while the fun level is just as high. This April, the Pelicans play at home between the 12th and 17, and between the 26th and 30th. Even if you aren't a baseball fan, this is one of the best date night ideas or events for a night out as a family that you will find in the area during April. You won't regret it!

3.     Smell the Intoxicating Barbecue at Smoke on the Beach

This year on April 15 from 3:00 to 10:00 and April 16 from 10:00 to 6:00, Smoke on the Beach is the single best thing to do in Myrtle Beach. This event will feature over 50 barbecue masters competing for a wide range of prizes, as well as vendors, food trucks, and more. We all know that good barbecue is a time-tested staple of southern cuisine, and this event is nothing but further evidence of that! There is much fun to be had, and much delicious food to be eaten! If that isn't enough, there will even be live music and a car show added on top. If you happen to be in Myrtle Beach on Easter weekend, you can't miss this. 

4.     Do Some Shopping at the Tanger Outlets, Barefoot Landing, or Broadway at the Beach

The end of tax season is upon us, which means there is a good chance you are due for a nice and sizable tax refund! If this is the case for you, you may be looking for some creative ways to burn through some of that cash. While Myrtle Beach is typically more known for its restaurants and beaches, there are also a handful of favorite shopping venues that deserve a visit as well! Really, when you think about the number of visitors that this area receives each year (tens of millions each summer, to be exact) the area has to be equipped to satisfy all of their touristy desires. Going shopping in Myrtle Beach is not a rainy-day activity like it is in many other places, as the best shopping venues in Myrtle Beach are all outdoors. From great deals at the Tanger Outlets, to lovely evenings out at Barefoot Landing and Broadway at the Beach, you have plenty of great places to shop in the Grand Strand, making shopping one of the best things to do in Myrtle Beach in April.

5.     Play a Round of Golf at One of Myrtle Beach’s Many Renowned Golf Courses

At this point in the year, the weather is consistently beautiful and the humidity is very low. If you want to head to Myrtle Beach to go golfing, this is as good a time as any! If you have read any of our posts, by this time you ought to know that Myrtle Beach’s nickname is the “Golf Capital of the World”! There are so many golf courses that you can play at in the Grand Strand, and they span across all difficulty levels. Golfers of all levels can find a course that suits their style of play, whether they prefer a 6 pack and a cigar over a laid back day of 18 holes, or a more intense round with strict focus on the rules and final outcomes. Even miniature golf is a viable option in Myrtle Beach, as it feels like there is a miniature golf course almost every five minutes!

6.     Head to Pancakes and Penguins at Ripley’s Aquarium

This month, Pancakes and Penguins is making two appearances at Ripley's Aquarium in Broadway at the beach. The first of those appearances, however, is already sold out. (This goes to show just how popular of an event it is!) If you wanted to visit on April 11, you are out of luck. However, if you are hoping to visit on the 13th, you still have a chance to buy tickets! From 8:00 am to 10:00 am, this event allows for patrons to meet and greet the aquarium’s penguins before the aquarium opens for the day while also having a unique visitor experience and eating a nice breakfast. The breakfast includes pancakes, eggs, bacon, fruits, coffee, and juices. In addition to the meet and greet with the penguins and the breakfast, guests can expect a photo op with the aquarium’s mascot, a craft session, and admission to the aquarium once the event has concluded. Tickets cost $59.99 for adults and as low as $12.99 for kids depending on their age. Be sure to purchase your tickets online in advance to make sure that you have a spot, as the event will not happen again until mid May, most likely. Pancakes and Penguins is one of the best things to do in Myrtle Beach in April, and if you miss this opportunity you won’t have another chance for several weeks. Unless you live here, that is probably not very useful!

7.     Attend a Concert or Show

Myrtle Beach has a handful of concert and show venues, and the event lineup in April is absolutely packed. From country singers, to musicals, to tribute shows about some of music’s greatest artists, the lineup of shows has a little something to please everyone. Here is a quick look at some of the best shows and concerts coming to Myrtle Beach this April:

• Remember When Rock Was Young – Elton John Tribute at The Carolina Opry Theatre on April 3

• Drew Holcomb at the House of Blues on April 9

• The Platters, The Drifters, And The Coasters at Alabama Theatre on April 23

• Jazz in the Park Concert at Grand Park at The Market Common on April 24

• The Gaither Vocal Band at The Carolina Opry on April 24

• Three Dog Night at Alabama Theatre on April 30

Why is April One of the Best Months to Visit Myrtle Beach?

You have seen us write this before, and we will write it again: there really is no such thing as a bad month to visit Myrtle Beach. There is always something going on here, even in the peak of winter, and the weather throughout the entire year is quite tolerable for most people, if not relaxing and comfortable! In our opinion, when it comes down to it, April is definitely one of the best months to make a trip to Myrtle Beach. The weather is nice and warm, which makes for some really enjoyable walks on the beach, rounds of golf, and outdoor dinners. If you get lucky, the weather is even warm enough to lay out and sun tan on the beach and play some beach games, like Spikeball and volleyball. On top of great weather, there are some other really fun things going on in Myrtle Beach in April, which we mentioned above.

If all of that weren’t enough, with the exception of Easter weekend, the crowds in Myrtle Beach are minimal in April. Do you love going to Crabby Mike's, but you hate waiting in your car for an hour for a table to come available? You should visit in April, as there is almost never a wait. Most of the restaurants and entertainment venues are open for business, but the massive crowds of the summer have not yet arrived. I think we ought to give those restaurants a bunch of credit, as they really do a great job of getting people in the door as quickly as possibly in the summer. But really, there is nothing better than walking right in the door and feating away on their incredible buffet.

The final major upside of visiting Myrtle Beach in April is the tranquility that you will experience, both in the city and at your hotel or other accommodation. Don't get me wrong; Myrtle Beach is a lot of fun in the summer when it is packed, and the energy and fun is infectious. However, there is something really special about the rest and relaxation you can attain here during the low season. You can go for long walks on the beach completely on your own, you can have a peaceful cup of coffee and maintain a conversation without straining your ears, and you can get from the north end of the city to the south end of the city in much less time than it takes in the summer due to the lack of traffic. Myrtle Beach in April is an entirely different universe from Myrtle Beach in the summer, and it is one that we really enjoy without the shadow of a doubt!

That is all we have for you about visiting Myrtle Beach in April. As you can see, April is actually one of the best months - if not the best month - to visit the Grand Strand's greatest city. There are countless great and unique things to do, the weather is great, and there are virtually no lines at all – a striking change when compared to the busy summer months where it is not uncommon to wait in line for hours for a table at dinner. If you decide to visit Myrtle Beach or any other place in South Carolina and fall in love, reach out to us for help. We at The Boyd Team are always here to help you figure out whether Myrtle Beach is your next home or not, and we are committed to helping you find the right property for your needs and dreams. Any question that you have about moving to the area and finding your dream home by the beach is our pleasure to answer. Feel free to send us an email at eddie@boydteam.com or text or call us at (843) 222-8566, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Being true natives of the Grand Strand and Horry County and with over 25 years of experience in the local real estate market, whether buying or selling, we can help you make your dreams a reality.  

No One Knows The Grand Strand Better! Trust, Knowledge, Experience, Professionalism, You Can Count On!

Featured image.

Alt-tag: A view of a modern home.

Things That Often Fail a Home Inspection

If you are looking into buying or selling a home, you will undoubtedly want to familiarize yourself with home inspections. Home inspections are performed by licensed inspectors and are usually paid for by the buyer. The purpose of this is for the home inspector to bring attention to possible issues with the home. The inspector will evaluate the house, looking for plumbing, electrical, structural, and mechanical problems. Home inspections, however, tend to be on the expensive side. As such, if you know what typically fails a home inspection, you can save yourself some money. In order to help with this, we have put together a list of things that often fail a home inspection, and we hope you find it helpful.

Faulty foundations and drainage issues

Needless to say, foundations are pretty important for a house. And as such, one of the things that often fail a home inspection is having a faulty foundation. 

You might notice doors and windows begin to stick or visible cracks in the foundation or around doorways. Or a sloping floor somewhere in the house. Faulty foundations tend to be some of the most expensive repairs, so buyers shouldn’t bother with such a home. 

On the other hand, sellers should try to fix the issue before it escalates. Usually, it’s bad drainage that causes this issue. Surface grading, which is poorly done, causes inadequate drainage, leading to foundation damage. So, if there’s anything first-time homebuyers should keep in mind, it would be to avoid homes that have these issues. The repairs can cost around $10,000 to fix, which isn’t worth the effort.

Cracked foundations can be caused by bad drainage, and it’s an issue that is quite expensive to solve.

Alt-tag: Close-up of cracked asphalt.

Bad roofing

It’s essential to remember that asphalt shingle roofs last from 15 to 20 years. Severely neglected roofs can be extremely expensive to replace and even lead to severe structural damage over time. Therefore, this is an issue that could easily fail a home inspection. In fact, experts from excalibur-movers.com state that some people are even forced to move out of a home in extreme cases of faulty roofing. Fortunately, this is an issue that is easy to solve in its early stages. Simply repair damaged flashing and shingles where they appear. If your house has ventilation, remember to re-caulk the spots where pipes penetrate the roof. As for home-buyers, if you notice that a potential home has bad roofing, you’re better off avoiding it. Typically, the effort to have it fixed will cost you a lot more than you might expect, and it generally is not worth the bother.

Problems with plumbing

Certain types of pipes (those made from polybutylene, specifically) have been discontinued due to their high failure rate. As such, home inspectors will report pipes made from incompatible plumbing materials. On top of that, generally damaged pipes, backed-up sewage systems, and malfunctioning water heaters are common issues that fail home inspections. 

While not as expensive as repairing foundations or roofing, fixing plumbing can get pretty pricey if the problem escalates. Thus, you should consider upgrading your plumbing or at least fixing visible leaks and unclog drains if you intend to sell your home. Finally, reseating your toilets and installing wax rings is a great idea, as it can increase the value of your home. If you’re looking into a home with plumbing issues, you should keep in mind that, although they’re not the most expensive problems, they can escalate pretty quickly.

Plumbing issues can lead to serious problems if not addressed as quickly as possible.

Alt-tag: Close-up of the yellow valve.

Poor maintenance

Just on their own, cosmetic issues aren’t too troubling. For instance, things such as cracked caulk or peeling paint might not seem too bad, at first glance. However, an accumulation of these minor problems indicates poor home maintenance and can reveal more significant issues. And this, in turn, can lead to closing delays: until those issues are revealed and repaired, buyers cannot proceed with closing or moving in. So, if you have to wait, make sure you have a plan B. 

What’s more, while these issues by themselves aren’t costly to sort out, they can gather up and stress you out in the long run. Fortunately, for anyone looking to sell a home, this problem is easy to fix. Try replacing broken appliances and lighting fixtures and brand-new coats of paint. This can give the house more appeal at first glance and prevent the accumulation of problems in the long term.

Pests and mold

If there is anything that can fail a home inspection immediately, it’s an infestation of pests or mold. Termites especially can send potential buyers running, as they can do a lot of structural damage quickly. As such, it’s imperative to deal with them as soon as you spot them. On the other hand, mold is a danger to your health and an indicator of leaks or drainage issues. There are many things to think about before buying a home, and whether or not the house has an active infestation should be one of them. Both mold and pests can escalate to extensive infestations quickly. And once this happens, it takes a lot of time and money to solve the infestation. Therefore, dealing with them as early as possible is the best choice of action for home sellers. As for the buyers, it’s best not to deal with those at all.

Mold and pest infestations can escalate very quickly. And when they do, they take a lot of time and effort to sort out.

Alt-tag: Close-up photo of a brown rat.

Things that often fail a home inspection – conclusion

There are many issues that can easily lead to home inspection failure. Some of them are more expensive to fix, but all of them can be dangerous if left unattended for a while. Thus, if you’re a home buyer, you should pay attention to these issues. And, if you’re a seller, you should try to have them fixed before they escalate into serious problems. We hope you found this list of things that often fail a home inspection helpful.

KW: fail a home inspection

Meta description: Worried your home will fail a home inspection? Read this list of things that often fail a home inspection and avoid the most common problems!

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Tips for Taking Care of Your Lawn as a New Homeowner

So you have taken the big plunge into your future and have bought your first house. Congratulations! Becoming a homeowner for the first time is undoubtedly an exciting moment, and you will probably always look back fondly on the sense of accomplishment you are currently feeling. While this new home will provide you with countless memories, stories, and satisfy many dreams, owning it will also bring around several challenges that you will need to face. One of those challenges – or really a set of challenges – is keeping up with the demands of maintenance. Owning your own house means that there is no longer a landlord or property manager to turn to when things stop working. You are now the one in charge of repairs, upgrades, and maintenance, which can be a bit overwhelming sometimes. 

Nevertheless, blogs like this one exist to help you face those challenges and move forward as a confident, proud homeowner. Today’s post is going to tackle one of the challenges that you may now need to face that might not have ever been on your radar before: lawn care. While it might sound silly, lawn and garden care are very time consuming, necessary things. If you do not know what you are doing, things can get out of hand or way too expensive very quickly. This post is going to break down all of the basic things you need to know about lawn and garden care so that you can confidently handle your lawn and garden this spring and summer.

Is Your Lawn Even Your Responsibility?

Surprisingly, the answer to this question is just “maybe.” Usually, homeowners are responsible for keeping their lawns and gardens neat and trimmed themselves. This is generally a responsibility that falls on nobody but you. In fact, many places even require certain standards of lawn care. If you live in a housing community, for example, they might demand that your grass be kept below a certain height at all times. This is both for cosmetic and safety reasons, as tall grass is both unsightly and also a potential home for unwanted guests, like snakes and vermin. Often, you even sign an agreement like this before you are allowed to buy the house, that way they have your consent to the community standards in writing. 

This is not always the case, though. Some communities have these standards, but provide the services to you for a fee, which may be included in the HOA (Homeowners Association) fee that you might be paying. Some communities – especially retirement communities – assess a monthly or yearly fee to do routine outdoor maintenance and lawn care for you on a pre-scheduled basis. If this is you, then you really have no more need for this post! However, if you are part of the majority of people who are tasked with taking care of their own lawn, keep reading.

How Often Should You Mow Your Lawn?

The answer to this question is highly dependent on a few factors. First and foremost, you should aim to mow your lawn when it needs to be cut – it is as simple as that. Just like you get your hair cut when it starts to get too long, you should also mow your lawn with some regularity. The difference is that it is better to mow your lawn before it gets out of control. Waiting too long between mowing sessions makes the grass harder to cut, which in turn makes the lawn mowing job less clean, even, and lasting. If your grass isn’t trimmed to be even, parts of it will need to be mowed pretty quickly after the fact.

Generally, the rule of thumb is to mow your lawn weekly during its growing season. This is the spring and summer, and may include the fall and winter if you live in a warm enough place. If your grass is growing more, it only makes sense that you will need to cut it more. In the cooler months, when the growth slows down, your mowing frequency could even slow all the way down to zero cuts per month. The most important thing is that you pick a length you like to cut your grass to and keep it within a couple inches of that length at all times.

How Short Should I Cut My Grass?

While there is some wiggle room here, it is generally agreed upon that most breeds of grass should be kept at 2.5 to 3 inches for the bulk of the year and then 3 to 3.5 inches during the hottest part of the year. This is because the extra half inch of length can help provide insulation to the soil from the summer heat, which helps to keep the nutrients moving properly into the root systems of the grass. Some types of grass, like the grass on golf courses and commonly found in Florida, thrives at short lengths and can be cut to a very cropped length. On the topic of length, you should never cut more than the top third of the blades of grass at a time, as cutting more can cause a shock to the grass plants and lead to patches of dead grass. 

Should I Bag My Grass Clippings?

This fully depends on your preferences. Bagging your grass clippings leads to many potential benefits, but can take a lot of extra time and energy in the process. Most bags fill up pretty quickly and need to be emptied several times throughout the course of the mowing session in order to bag the full yard’s clippings. Now, why would you want to bag your grass clippings? Firstly, it leads to a cleaner yard. Grass clippings dry out and clump up, which can be unsightly. Additionally, large clumps of grass clippings can block sunlight to patches of live grass, killing the grass in those areas and leading to the need for time-consuming lawn repairs. 

Bagging your grass clippings can do you more good than just beautifying your yard, too. Glass clippings are a common composting component, which can turn into great fertilizer for your garden. This is highly sustainable, leads to better garden crops, and costs you absolutely nothing! Additionally, if you don’t use toxic products in your yard, using composted grass clippings as soil is much healthier than many store-bought fertilizer products and soil additives.

What is Lawn Aeration, and Should I Do It?

Lawn aeration is a procedure that takes narrow cylinders of grass and soil out of your yard. Machines are used to dig several inches into the ground and pull small apple core shaped pieces of land out of the lawn. These resulting holes are great for nutrient and water storage, and the process is generally considered to be very healthy for your lawn. 

While it is considered to be a successful tool to improving your lawn’s appearance and health, aeration can be expensive, and the results can be marginal compared to other lawn care tactics. There is absolutely nothing wrong with aerating your lawn, and it will most likely lead to nicer grass, but the effects often do not measure up to the expenses. Many people shell out hundreds of dollars for aeration services and notice little difference in the appearance of their yard after the fact. If you are operating on a budget, this might be something to considered skipping.

Should I Roll My Lawn?

Rolling your lawn is a tactic that is typically reserved for immediately after seeding. When you spread new grass seed on your lawn, birds and wind can often diminish the effects of your reseeding attempts. Excess rain is another culprit that leads to the diminishing of your newly spread seed. Rolling is a tactic that is used to press the newly spread grass seeds deeper into the ground, that way they can germinate more effectively and grow roots before external factors try to take them away. If you spread seeds to any place in your lawn, it is a great idea to use a lawn roller to press them further into the soil. If you are not spreading any new seeds, though, there is no reason to use a roller.

How Often Should I Reseed My Lawn?

Generally speaking, you should reseed your lawn every 4 years. This is because over time, the grass naturally thins out and the roots weaken. Reseeding helps to make up for any grass that has died or weakened over the years, leading to a thicker and denser lawn. Having a thick and dense lawn is very important, as it helps to protect the root systems and provides a better defense against pesky weeds. Reseeding doesn’t need to be expensive, and is something that you can absolutely do yourself. Many companies will charge hundreds to thousands of dollars to reseed your lawn, but a simple trip to the hardware store can get the job done for you for a fraction of the price.

What Time of the Year Should I Reseed My Lawn?

If you do decide to reseed your lawn every few years, the time of the year that you do the reseeding is very important. Reseeding your lawn at the wrong time of the year can lead to very poor results, and frankly can be a big waste of money. Generally speaking, the best time to reseed your lawn is in the early fall, because the soils is still warm and the air temperature is cooler. This combination helps the new seeds to effectively germinate in the soil and start to grow strong roots before the colder winter sets in. Reseeding in the winter is the worst time of the year, as the soil lacks nutrients and can even be frozen, depending on where you live. 

Do I Need To Use Weed Killing Products on My Lawn?

There are many different stances and opinions on the answer to this question. Weed killers tend to have many harmful substances in them, which can be bad for children, pets, and wildlife. At the same time, having weeds in your yard is a total nuisance and can make you the least popular neighbor very quickly. How do you keep weeds out of your yard without using weed killers, then? Well, you really can’t. If the weeds are spreading into your yard, it is pretty inevitable that they will continue to spread until you take care of them for good. Weeding is effective at reducing the number of weeds in your yard or garden, but it almost never exterminates the weeds fully from your yard. 

Your best alternative is probably to turn to weed killers that do not use harmful substances, or at least ones that use as few harmful substances as possible. While you might not be able to fully avoid harmful substances, you can likely find products that are not toxic to humans or animals. These products can be the best compromise for you, as they eliminate pesky weeds once and for all without exposing you or your loved ones to any long-term risks. 

Now, when should you use weed killers? Frankly, as soon as possible. You can even use weed killers in a preventative manner, spraying your yard before weeds even show themselves. Much like termites, by the time you see the weeds growing it may already be too late to stop their invasion. Even if you do see them, you will have much better luck killing 10 weeds than 100, and their spread increases exponentially the longer you leave them unattended. Acting faster can save you a lot of time and money when it is all said and done. 

Is It Worth Hiring Lawn Care Professionals?

The answer to this question depends on your budget and your willingness to work with your hands. Factually, you can save hundreds to thousands of dollars by doing the work yourself. However, this work is very demanding, and you will likely never do as good of a job as the professionals will. After all, they do it for a living! If this is your first home, odds are you are on a bit of a tighter budget than someone who has owned many homes before. If you are trying to save money, doing the work yourself is the answer. However, if you can afford to pay a premium to have someone else do the work for you, or if you are not physically able to complete all of the arduous yard work on your own, hiring a certified lawn care professional is always a fantastic option and will almost always lead to pleasing results.

Thanks for reading our post about taking care of your lawn as a new homeowner. Lawn care is something that many people fail to think about before moving in to their first home, and we hope that this post has helped to take answer some of the questions or fears that you may have had. Lawn care really is easy, although it does take effort. Proper planning and understanding can help you to have the nicest yard on the block in no time, and doing things yourself can save you thousands of dollars in the process. 

If you visit Myrtle Beach or any other place in South Carolina and fall in love, reach out to us for help. We at The Boyd Team are always here to help you figure out whether Myrtle Beach is your next home or not, and we are committed to helping you find the right property for your needs and dreams. Any question that you have about moving to the area and finding your dream home by the beach is our pleasure to answer. Feel free to send us an email at eddie@boydteam.com or text or call us at (843) 222-8566, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Being true natives of the Grand Strand and Horry County and with over 25 years of experience in the local real estate market, whether buying or selling, we can help you make your dreams a reality.  

No One Knows The Grand Strand Better! Trust, Knowledge, Experience, Professionalism, You Can Count On!

Written by Greg

13 Creative Ways to Use Your Back Yard

Homeownership is a really cool thing. There are many reasons for this, but one of the most notable is that you own your own space with which you can do just about anything. To use an art analogy, your new house is your blank canvas, and you can use it to express whatever you want, however you want. This expression could be indoors with the furniture and decorations with which you fill your home. This expression could be down in the basement, whether you decided to finish it, use it for storage, make a man cave out of it, or anything else. This expression could be outside in one of your yards, which are literally nothing but a green canvas waiting for you to take action. This post is going to focus on your back yard specifically and provide many of the best ways you can effectively utilize your back yard space. There are ideas in this post for everyone, spanning all budget levels and lifestyles. Hopefully you find one that suits you!

However, before we get into the actual ways to best utilize your back yard space, we first want to point out that not every idea is for everyone. Everyone has different goals and intended uses for their back yard, and this means that some ideas will resonate more with you than other ideas. That is fine! After all, the whole point of this post is to demonstrate that your back yard is your own space, and you can utilize any of these ideas to truly take ownership of that space. You may even decide that all you want for your back yard is a wide-open green space – and that is perfectly fine! At the end of the day, the only opinions that matter on your back yard are yours and your family’s.

1. Build a Gazebo, Pagoda, or Pavilion

If you want some rest and relaxation, a gazebo is one of the best ways to do it. Whether you opt for a round, smaller structure like a pagoda or a more rectangular, larger space like a pavilion, having some sort of open-air, roofed structure is always a great idea for those looking for an outdoor retreat. Gazebos make for great conversations, can be used as dining spaces, and can be the perfect place to put your feet up and read a book with a glass of wine while soaking in the sun or the breeze.

Gazebos are also a great way to upgrade your back yard without breaking the bank. You can get a decent gazebo for just a few thousand dollars and decorating it does not require very much more. For a “bang for your buck” upgrade to your back yard, a gazebo or other type of pavilion structure may be your best bet.

2. Build or Buy a Firepit

Honestly, can you think of anything better than a summer or autumn evening around the fire with some s’mores and friends? Firepits are one of the classic upgrades to any back yard, and they are also very easy to make. All you need is some stones, some gravel, and whatever it is that you plan to sit on! If you are not a do it yourself kind of person, you can also buy firepits at very affordable prices at large stores like Home Depot and Walmart. Before building or buying a firepit, though, you should make sure that the use of firepits is legal in your area or neighborhood. Some neighborhoods have ordinances against the use of open flames, and it would be a shame to see your purchase or hard work go to waste!

3. Design and Put Together an Outdoor Kitchen

Why cook indoors when you can cook outdoors? Just kidding – of course you need a real indoor kitchen. However, all joking aside, outdoor kitchens are becoming a very popular amenity in back yards, and for good reason! People have always loved to grill, but with other appliances like griddles and smokers becoming more popular, the idea of a full outdoor kitchen becomes increasingly popular. This is especially true if you live in a place like the beautiful South Carolina, where the weather is pleasant and warm for most of the year. If you live in a place where you can eat outside for the majority of the year, this ought to be extra appealing! Outdoor kitchens pair very well with pavilions, too, as the roof can protect all of your appliances, food, and dining area.

4. Construct and Stock an Outdoor Bar

If the idea of an outdoor kitchen doesn’t sound appealing to you, maybe you would be more interested in an outdoor bar! Outdoor bars have always been a popular thing, from tiki bars to pool bars and beyond, and they make a great addition to any back yard. Having a nice outdoor bar and keeping the fridge well-stocked is bound to make your back yard a hit among friends. Just like outdoor kitchens, outdoor bars pair really well with pavilions. Imagine this: you are sitting outside on the couch on a cool summer night in your pavilion with a TV mounted on the wall in front of you. To your right is a grill sizzling with some steaks, and to your left is a keg tapped up with crisp, cold beer. What a perfect setting for game watches, Netflix shows, or and family movie nights!

5. Build a Deck or a Patio

Depending on the setup of your house and yard, you may be better suited choosing to build a patio or a deck than a pavilion. While pavilions have rooves, decks and patios provide more room for sunshine and active activities. Pavilions, with their rooves, don’t make for good basketball courts! Patios are a very affordable option, too, as all they typically require is a concrete slab. When it comes down to selecting between decks, patios, and gazebos, there really is no right answer. You need to think about what exactly you want to do in your back yard and select the kind of space that will work the best for you. Patios are great if you have kids that like to play sports, decks are great if your house is built onto a hill or if you want some good sunshine to lay in, and pavilions are the best are the best if you plan to use nicer furniture, have a TV or rug, or install an outdoor kitchen or outdoor bar.

6. Grow a Vegetable or Herb Garden

If you’re looking for a backyard space that is beautiful, productive, and potentially even therapeutic, you should consider planting some sort of garden. Gardens are a great addition to your backyard in so many ways. Firstly, gardens are beautiful and help to add a look of nature to your back yard. Secondly, gardens are productive. A sizeable garden can help to offset your grocery costs, as you can simply pick most of your fruits and vegetables from right in your back yard! Gardening is also very therapeutic for many people, and it can be very rewarding to watch your garden slowly grow. If you have children, gardens are a fantastic way to teach them about responsibility and reaping the rewards of their efforts. 

7. Create an Outdoor Dining Space

We have already mentioned outdoor kitchens and outdoor bars, but have you ever thought about putting together a classy outdoor dining space? This usually comes in tandem with some sort of pavilion or canopy, as you typically would want to protect your table and dining wares. Outdoor dining isn’t appealing to everyone, as some people would much rather eat away from the heat, bugs, and weather. However, if you are someone who would enjoy outdoor dinners and you live in a place with pretty favorable weather, building an outdoor dining space could be a really nice idea. Personally, I think that nothing beats a nice meal outside in the fresh air with a crisp glass of white wine. Do you agree? If so, you should build an outdoor dining space in your back yard!

8. Purchase Some Lawn Games

This one is nice because it can be either permanent or temporary. Lawn games, like corn hole and croquet, are a fantastic way to bring people together, break the ice while hosting events, and provide easy fun and fresh air outside. You could set up semi-permanent games, like leaving croquet rings in the ground, or you could simply purchase games to store in a shed and bring out when necessary. While being able to tuck the games away into storage is always nice, you will probably find that lawn games get played a lot more when they are left out. Out of sight, out of mind is a really applicable concept in this case. Keep that in mind when you think about what lawn games you would or would not like to buy. Sometimes cheap and simple can be just as great and expensive and elaborate, especially when they are being stored outside!

9. Hang a Tree Swing

This is one of the easiest and most creative items on this list, and for obvious reasons, it is not for everyone. If you don’t have a big tree, you can’t hang a tree swing! Tree swings are great, though, as they require a lot less space and money than an entire swing set and they blend pretty well into the natural surroundings of your yard. If you ever want to hide the swing for any reason, you can simply place it on top of the branch from which it is hanging. All you need is some rope, hardware, and a plank of wood. It doesn’t get much easier (or cheaper) than that!

10. Or an Outdoor Bed Swing

Much less common but much cooler than traditional tree swings are bed swings, which are essentially outdoor mattresses suspended by a branch, tree, or man-made structure. While they are much larger and more involved than regular tree wings, bed swings are a relatively easy addition to your back yard space. A night staring up at the stars from a bed swing sounds pretty good to me!

11. Or Just Build an Entire Treehouse

While this is one of the most involved undertakings on the entire list, treehouses are undoubtedly cool projects that can lead to a ton of memories for you and your kids. Again, if you don’t have the right kind of tree, you will not be able to build a tree house. It is as simple as that. If you do have the right kind of tree, though, building a treehouse is an undoubtedly great way to encourage outside playtime for your kids! While it may seem fun to design your own treehouse, you might be better off using a design or hiring a professional. Considering that your children will be playing in it and it is several feet off the ground, you probably want to be absolutely certain that it is safe and secure!

12. Build or Buy a Shed

If your yard is big enough for some of the things on this list, it means you will probably need a place to store things! While kitchen appliances can stay where they are, lawn games and pool supplies probably need a place of their own to call home. Building or buying a shed, big or small, is the solution to this. Many stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s offer free delivery of sheds, and they will even assemble them for you for a fee. Personally, I think putting a shed together is a lot of fun, but if that is not your thing, be sure to leave it to the professionals!

13. Opt for a Pool or Hot Tub

Pools and hot tubs are two of the most classic uses for your back yard, and it is pretty obvious why – they are a blast to use! There is no better way to cool off on a hot summer day than with a dip in the pool, and a pool is one of the easiest ways to make memories both with family and friends. One thing that you do need to be aware of is that pools come with a lot of responsibility, both in terms of financial and time commitments. Pools require virtually constant care, and while the effort is very worth it if you use the pool enough, it feels very tedious if you keep cleaning a pool that hardly gets used. 

Hot tubs are great alternatives to pools in this way, as they require significantly less maintenance. While the water in a hot tub needs to be continually treated to keep it clean, the surface area of a hot tub is much smaller and therefore much easier to keep clean. Additionally, most hot tubs come with lids, which help to keep dirt, bugs, leaves, and rain out of the water. This also makes your maintenance efforts much easier.

Thank you for reading our post about the best ways that you can utilize your back yard space. We hope that this post has been helpful for you as you think about what to do with your back yard, whether you just moved into a new home or have had the same yard for years. Back yards are a space that you can truly make your own, much like a blank canvas to an artist. From cultivating a great space for hosting to building a fun, safe world for your children to play in, the different routes you can take when developing your back yard are very broad and different. 

Still, there is no single best thing to do with your back yard, and what you should do fully depends on what you want to do in the yard, who you plan on doing it with, and other external factors like the climate in which you love. With so many variables at play, the best way to utilize your back yard is simply by turning it into whatever it is that you want it to be. It is that simple!

If you visit Myrtle Beach or any other place in South Carolina and fall in love, reach out to us for help. We at The Boyd Team are always here to help you figure out whether Myrtle Beach is your next home or not, and we are committed to helping you find the right property for your needs and dreams. Any question that you have about moving to the area and finding your dream home by the beach is our pleasure to answer. Feel free to send us an email at eddie@boydteam.com or text or call us at (843) 222-8566, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Being true natives of the Grand Strand and Horry County and with over 25 years of experience in the local real estate market, whether buying or selling, we can help you make your dreams a reality.  

No One Knows The Grand Strand Better! Trust, Knowledge, Experience, Professionalism, You Can Count On!

Written by Greg

The Best Schools in the Myrtle Beach Area

Moving to a new area is a very involved process. We have written about this many times in previous posts – there are so many decisions that you need to make, and so many hoops that you need to jump through. With the help of a good realtor, that can all be taken care of easily! If you are moving to the Myrtle Beach area with a family, one very important aspect to consider during the homebuying process is what school your children will attend. Being around high-quality schools is crucial for your children’s development, and what neighborhood your house is in directly impacts your children’s education. After all, your children will probably spend more time at school than they will awake at home throughout the week!

This post will break down the best schools in the Myrtle Beach area so that you can use them as a factor in deciding where to buy your home. Niche.com is a great resource for doing background research on schools and neighborhoods, and the below list is the result of their 2022 analyses. This list is not exhaustive. For the sake of brevity, we chose to keep this list to just the three best public schools at each level, plus the best school overall which happens to be private. The schools on this list are all located in Horry County, but not all of them are directly in the city of Myrtle Beach.

The Best Schools in the Myrtle Beach Area - Overall

1.     Lowcountry Preparatory School

Lowcountry Preparatory School is widely regarded as the best private school in the area, and it serves kindergarten through twelfth grade. This school of around 150 students has a great reputation for its academic rigor and quality of instruction, and this is evidenced by the fact that 100% of graduates go on to attend a 4-year college or university. While it is the best school in the entire Myrtle Beach area, it comes with a catch – Lowcountry Preparatory School is a private school, carrying a tuition bill of up to $11,000 per year. While the price is steep (compared to public school, which is free), the quality of education may be enough to sway you to enroll your children here. Lowcountry Preparatory School is located in Pawley’s Island.

The Best Schools in the Myrtle Beach Area – Elementary Schools

Choosing a good elementary school for your children can be a daunting task in and of itself, as you want to make sure that your children are safe and in good hands. After all, this is the most vulnerable stage of their lives and one of the most crucial stages of their cognitive development. Here are the best three public elementary schools in Myrtle Beach, according to Niche.com.

1.     Seaside Elementary School

Seaside Elementary School tops the list of the best elementary schools in Myrtle Beach on Niche.com. With a student body of just under 500 kids ranging from Pre-K to fifth grade and a student to teacher ratio of 14 to 1, Seaside Elementary School is able to give each child a great amount of individual attention. Seaside Elementary School is located in Garden City, and it is a part of Horry County Schools, as it is public. Seaside Elementary School is especially good at teaching math, with over 75% percent of its students testing as at least proficient in the subject.

2.     Ocean Bay Elementary

With over 900 students and a student to teacher ratio of 18 to 1, Ocean Bay Elementary is massive. This school serves Pre-K through fifth grade, meaning that there are over 100 students in each grade. While the size of the school may be off-putting for some, Niche.com ranks Ocean Bay Elementary as the second-best elementary school in the area. Ocean Bay Elementary is located in Myrtle Beach proper and is a part of Horry County Schools. The test scores here are comparable to the scores at Seaside Elementary School, which is admirable given that the student body is twice the size.

3.     Burgess Elementary School

Rounding out the list of the best elementary schools in Myrtle Beach according to Niche.com is Burgess Elementary School. Burgess Elementary School has a student body of just over 700 students ranging from Pre-K to fifth grade, averaging out to about 100 students per grade. With a student to teacher ratio of 17 to 1, students are bound to get good individual attention. The test scores are slightly lower here than at the other two elementary schools on this list, but still acceptable. Burgess Elementary School is located in Myrtle Beach proper and is a part of Horry County Schools.

The Best Schools in the Myrtle Beach Area – Middle Schools

While children are very vulnerable and dependent during elementary school, they are the most impressionable during middle school. Middle school is a time that is filled with a lot of growth and development and having a solid support system is very important during this stage of life. With that in mind, here are the three best public middle schools in Myrtle Beach according to Niche.com.

1.     Socastee Middle

Socastee Middle is the highest rated public school in the Myrtle Beach area on Niche.com. With a student body of just under 500 students ranging from sixth grade to eighth grade, this school is much larger than the first one on our list. With a student to teacher ratio of 15 to 1, the student body is well taken care of – and just about two thirds of students are at least proficient in reading and math. Socastee Middle is located in Myrtle Beach proper. As a public school, Socastee Middle is part of Horry County Schools.

2.     Ocean Bay Middle School

As the second highest rated public school in the Myrtle Beach area on Niche.com, Ocean Bay Middle School is a fantastic alternative to Socastee Middle, and is located in Myrtle Beach proper. This school of about 700 students is bigger than Socastee Middle and actually earns slightly higher test scores, too. The tradeoff is that the student to teacher ratio is slightly higher at around 16 to 1. As a public school, Ocean Bay Middle School is part of Horry County Schools. One attendee says that the staff and teachers are especially helpful, nice, and accepting. This is a fantastic option if you are moving to the Myrtle Beach area!

3.     Ten Oaks Middle

As the biggest of the middle schools on this list, Ten Oaks Middle is quite the school. With a student body of over a thousand kids and an average grade size of well over three hundred students, Ten Oaks Middle affords your kids with many opportunities that a smaller school might not. With that being said, Ten Oaks Middle has the highest student to teacher ratio of all the middle schools on this list, at 17 to 1. Online reviews say that Ten Oaks Middle takes bullying very seriously and addresses issues effectively. Ten Oaks Middle is located in Myrtle Beach proper and is a part of Horry County Schools.

The Best Schools in the Myrtle Beach Area – High Schools

Elementary school and middle school present their own challenges and priorities, but there is no time as critical in a child’s social and professional future as high school. Your child’s high school years are one of the most formative times in their life, and whether or not they choose to go to college, their high school education will carry a large role throughout the rest of their life. Sending your children to a high school that gives them the opportunity to stretch their wings while also challenging and assisting them in the classroom is absolutely critical. Here are the three best public high schools in Myrtle Beach, according to Niche.com.

1.     St. James High School

Despite the Catholic name, St. James High School is a public school and part of Horry County Schools. This school has a student body of just over 1,700 students and a student to teacher ratio of 18 to 1. St. James High School is located in Murrells Inlet. This school offers a robust selection of AP and gifted courses, achieves great test scores, and has a good reputation for sending students to college. 84% of students graduate and graduating seniors from St. James High School earn an average SAT score of 1180 and ACT score of 25. Students tend to love attending St. James High School, and it earns generally positive reviews across the board.

2.     Carolina Forest High School

Carolina Forest High School takes the second overall spot on Niche.com’s list of the best high schools in Myrtle Beach. Located in Myrtle Beach proper, Carolina Forest High School is a public school and is part of Horry County Schools. Carolina Forest High School has a student body of over 2,600 students and a student to teacher ratio of 21 to 1. While that number is significantly higher than St. James High School, it is not reflected in the test scores. In fact, Carolina Forest High School earns a higher graduation rate at 87%, a higher average SAT score among graduating seniors at 1190, and an equal ACT score at 25. Students tend to really love it at Carolina Forest High School, with the school earning very positive reviews and an average of 4 out of 5 stars.

3.     Socastee High School

Socastee High School is the final school to make our list, coming in at third place on Niche.com. With a student body of over 1600 and a student to teacher ratio of 17 to 1, Socastee High School is the smallest and most personal school on this list. Located in Myrtle Beach proper, Socastee High School is a part of Horry County Schools and earns great reviews across the board by students and families. The AP enrollment at Socastee High School is the lowest of any school on this list at just 10%, but the graduation rate of 85% falls in the middle, and the average SAT score of 1180 and ACT score of 25 fall right in step with the other schools on this list. All in all, you can’t go wrong with Socastee High School, and most students would agree.

Thanks for reading our post on the best schools in Myrtle Beach! As realtors, it is our job to help you as much as we can throughout your homebuying process. This list is not exhaustive by any means – really, these schools are just the cream of the crop at each level in the Myrtle Beach area. Just because a school is not on this list does not mean that it is a bad school by any means. The public school system in and around Myrtle Beach is generally regarded to be quite good, and sending your children to any of these schools especially will help them to be set up for success as they continue to grow. We’ve called Myrtle Beach home for years, and we can personally vouch for how great the area is for raising a family.

If you visit Myrtle Beach or any other place in South Carolina and fall in love, reach out to us for help. We at The Boyd Team are always here to help you figure out whether Myrtle Beach is your next home or not, and we are committed to helping you find the right property for your needs and dreams. Any question that you have about moving to the area and finding your dream home by the beach is our pleasure to answer. Feel free to send us an email at eddie@boydteam.com or text or call us at (843) 222-8566, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Being true natives of the Grand Strand and Horry County and with over 25 years of experience in the local real estate market, whether buying or selling, we can help you make your dreams a reality.  

No One Knows The Grand Strand Better! Trust, Knowledge, Experience, Professionalism, You Can Count On!

Written by Greg

Best Things to do in Myrtle Beach in March

The cold months of winter are coming to a close, and the sun is starting to shine brightly once again in Myrtle Beach! March is truly one of the best times to visit Myrtle Beach. This is because March is when Myrtle Beach begins to enter its true shoulder season, which is the sweet spot of the year where you get the a comfortable blend of the benefits of winter and the benefits of summer. As March is just a couple months away from the summer, the weather is really warming up and becoming increasingly desirable. As summer is not yet in full swing, the crowds are still virtually non-existent, and the lines to all of the best restaurants and attractions are just as short as in December. This post is going to break out some of the best things to do in Myrtle Beach in March, either as a new or prospective resident or as a tourist visiting Myrtle Beach for the first time. After that, we will offer up a few reasons as to why March is actually one of the best months to visit Myrtle Beach!

1.     Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at one of Myrtle Beach’s Many Great Bars and Pubs

St. Patrick’s Day has become an iconic celebration in the United States, and there is no reason to look anywhere other than Myrtle Beach to celebrate. While this holiday comes out of Ireland, the idea of partying on St. Patrick’s Day is actually very foreign there. In Ireland, it is a sacred holiday. In the United States, not so much! In the United States, St. Patrick’s Day is an excuse to party, and there is no better place to party than at the beach!

Myrtle Beach is a great place to consider for a quick St. Patrick’s Day getaway because of its size and affordability. Myrtle Beach prides itself as a premier destination for entertainment, relaxation, and tourism – there are more restaurants per capita than in New York City! Heading to Myrtle Beach for St. Patrick’s Day means access to all of these incredible bars and restaurants without having to really worry about lines and crowds. Being centrally located on the East Coast is a great advantage, too!

There are plenty of great bars and restaurants to check out, but one we highly recommend is the Grumpy Monk. This place has a great food menu and an extensive tap list – pretty much exactly what you want if you are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day!

2.     Continue the Celebrations with the Annual North Myrtle Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The theme of St. Patrick’s Day continues! While celebrating in a bar or pub is certainly one way to go about it, another great way to celebrate this holiday is at the annual North Myrtle Beach St. Patrick’s Day parade. This parade is a favorite among visitors and locals each year, and with over 100 participating groups, it is quite the large event! The festivities kick off on Main Street in North Myrtle Beach at 9:00 am on Saturday, March 12, and the parade is followed by a family-friendly street fair for the rest of the afternoon. This is the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the Grand Strand, making it a can’t miss event while you’re in the area!

3.     Head to the Broadway at the Beach Annual KidzTime Festival

On March 19 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm head to Broadway at the Beach for their annual KidzTime Festival. This annual, children-centric event is a blast for any family with young kids. At the KidzTime Festival you can expect a day filled with face painting, balloon artists, character appearances, live entertainment and a variety of vendors offering kids activities, giveaways and more! If you are visiting Myrtle Beach with a family in March, this is a great way to spend a good part of your Saturday.

4.     Go to a Hands-on Workshop About Dyeing With Indigo

Indigo Dyeing used to be an important part of the local economy, and nobody knows that better than the folks at the L.W. Paul Living History Farm. On March 10, from 10:00 to 11:00am, The L.W. Paul Living History Farm will host a free hands-on workshop on indigo dyeing. Participants will learn about the history of indigo in South Carolina and have the opportunity to design and dye their own handkerchief. Space is limited to 15 people. Pre-registration is required. To sign up, contact Marian Calder at 843-915-7861 or email calder.marian@horrycounty.org. This is definitely an opportunity you do not want to miss, but the capacity is small. Be sure to register soon!

5.     Play a Round of Golf at One of Myrtle Beach’s Many Renowned Golf Courses

The weather is starting to warm up a bit, making outdoor activities even more enjoyable than they were in the past couple of months. What better outdoor activity is there than playing a round of golf? After all, Myrtle Beach’s nickname is the “Golf Capital of the World”! There are so many golf courses that you can play at in the Grand Strand, and they span across all difficulty levels. You do not need to be an experienced golfer to try out this classic game! Many of the courses offer golfing lessons, and as long as you go with a friend you are bound to have a good time, even if your experience includes nothing but miniature golf. If you would prefer that over real golf, though, there are seemingly endless miniature golf courses in Myrtle Beach, too!

6.     Watch Myrtle Beach’s Annual Marathon Take Place

On Saturday, March 5^th, Myrtle Beach’s annual marathon will be taking place. This event is more than just a marathon – it offers shorter race distances as well. The Myrtle Beach marathon is frequented by many runners who aim to qualify for the annual Boston marathon. While it may be too late to start training for a marathon, these events can be a lot of fun to watch as a spectator on the sidelines. If you want to watch the action unfold, head to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans’ stadium on March 5^th to cheer on the runners who devote so much time to training for such a massive event!

7.     Head to Pancakes and Penguins at Ripley’s Aquarium

On Friday, March 25^th from 8 to 10am, you will want to get tickets to Pancakes and Penguins at Ripley’s Aquarium. This event allows for patrons to meet and greet the aquarium’s penguins before the aquarium opens for the day, while also having a unique visitor experience and eating a nice breakfast. The breakfast includes pancakes, eggs, bacon, fruits, coffee, and juices. In addition to the meet and greet with the penguins and the breakfast, guests can expect a photo op with the aquarium’s mascot, a craft session, and admission to the aquarium once the event has concluded. Tickets cost $59.99 for adults and as low as $12.99 for kids depending on their age. Be sure to purchase your tickets online in advance to make sure that you have a spot, as the event only happens once or twice per month. Pancakes and Penguins is one of the best things to do in Myrtle Beach in February, and if you miss this opportunity you won’t have another chance until mid April

8.     Do Some Shopping at the Tanger Outlets, Barefoot Landing, or Broadway at the Beach

Myrtle Beach may be known for its restaurants and beaches, but there are also several renowned shopping venues that are worth a visit, too! After all, with the tens of millions of visitors that come in the summer, the area has to be equipped to satisfy all of their touristy desires.  Going shopping in Myrtle Beach is not a rainy-day activity like it is in many other places, as the best shopping venues in Myrtle Beach are all outdoors. If you are expecting a hefty refund from your tax return this year, checking out some of these shopping destinations is probably right up your alley! From great deals at the Tanger Outlets, to lovely evenings out at Barefoot Landing and Broadway at the Beach, you have plenty of great places to shop in the Grand Strand, making shopping one of the best things to do in Myrtle Beach in February.

9.     Attend a Concert or Show

Myrtle Beach has a handful of concert and show venues, and the event lineup in February is absolutely packed. From country singers, to musicals, to tribute shows about some of music’s greatest artists, the lineup of shows has a little something to please everyone. Be sure to do a quick Google search about the shows that will be occurring during your visit, as their may be one that interests you! The lineup is a bit all over the place, ranging from oldies, to country, to rock, to blues, to pop, and more. Be sure to look in advance if you would like to plan your trip around attending one of these shows!

Why is March One of the Best Months to Visit Myrtle Beach?

Like we say, there really is no such thing as a bad month to visit Myrtle Beach. There is always something going on here, and the weather in the winter is still comfortable for most people! With that being said, there are some months that are better to visit Myrtle Beach than others. In our opinion, March is one of them! While April may be even better, the same principles apply. The weather is beginning to warm up, which makes for some really enjoyable rounds of golf and some great dinners outdoors. It is not quite warm enough to lay out and sun tan on the beach, but it is comfortable enough for some nice long walks in the sand! On top of great weather, there are some really fun things going on in Myrtle Beach in March, which we mentioned above.

If all of that weren’t enough, there are virtually no crowds at all in Myrtle Beach in March. Most of the restaurants and entertainment venues are open for business, but the massive crowds of the summer have not yet arrived. This means you get access to the areas best food and entertainment venues without the several hours-long waits you can expect in the summer. If that doesn’t sound like a win-win situation, I don’t know what does!

The final benefit of going to Myrtle Beach in March is the peace and quiet that you will experience. Myrtle Beach is a lot of fun in the summer when it is packed, and it feels very alive. However, there is something really special about the tranquility of the area during the shoulder seasons. You can go for long walks on the beach without really seeing many people, you can have a peaceful cup of coffee with friends without having to yell, and you can get from the north end of the city to the south end of the city in much less time than it takes in the summer due to the lack of traffic. Myrtle Beach in March is an entirely different world from Myrtle Beach in the summer, and it is a world that we really enjoy!

That is all we have for you about visiting Myrtle Beach in March. As you can see, it is actually one of the best months to visit this East Coast gem of a city. There are countless great things to do, the weather is great, and there are virtually no lines at all – a striking change when compared to the busy summer months where it is not uncommon to wait in line for hours for a table at dinner. If you decide to visit Myrtle Beach or any other place in South Carolina and fall in love, reach out to us for help. We at The Boyd Team are always here to help you figure out whether Myrtle Beach is your next home or not, and we are committed to helping you find the right property for your needs and dreams. Any question that you have about moving to the area and finding your dream home by the beach is our pleasure to answer. Feel free to send us an email at eddie@boydteam.com or text or call us at (843) 222-8566, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Being true natives of the Grand Strand and Horry County and with over 25 years of experience in the local real estate market, whether buying or selling, we can help you make your dreams a reality.  

No One Knows The Grand Strand Better! Trust, Knowledge, Experience, Professionalism, You Can Count On!