Charleston Relocation Advice
So you’re planning on relocating to Charleston. I’ve put together this primer to help you break the process down so it’s a little more straightforward.
As with nearly everything in life, the more you understand about relocating, the less scary and stressful it is.
Charleston Relocation Process Checklist
- Identify the Relocation Area – What general area are you moving to?
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Identify Your Specific Considerations
- Price
- Size
- Desired Geographic Area
- Transportation/Commuting Considerations
- Health Care/Medical
- Educational
- Additional Considerations
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Selecting A Charleston Relocation Realtor
- Currently Licensed Realtor
- Education/Accreditation – Traditional education and real estate specific designations/education
- Relocation Services Bona Fides – Are you aware there are relocation-specific training, accreditations and certifications?
- General Competency – How long have they been a realtor? Any disciplinary issues? How many transactions have they done and what is the total value of those transactions?
- Online Presence – Does this realtor have a good online presence? A great website tends to indicate that the realtor is aware of trends and current technology
- Testimonials/References – Get relocation testimonials and check them out!
- Honesty & Expertise– When you talk to a realtor, ask a question about your relocation and then intentionally answer your own question incorrectly. Does this realtor correct the error?
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House Search
- Target List(s) Developed
- Qualifications Further Narrowed
- Houses Toured
- Finalist(s) Selected
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Inspection
- Appointment Made
- Inspection Attended by Buyer and Realtor
- Remodeling/Construction Considerations
- Repair List Submitted
- Repairs Performed
- Repairs Inspected
Important Charleston Relocation Concepts
- Charleston Area Home Pricing
- The average list price in Charleston County is $591,998: Dorchester County is $218,782; Berkeley County is $313,685.
- Homeowner’s Insurance
- The cost of insurance varies widely and is dependent upon flood insurance requirements.
- Charleston House Construction
- Because a significant percentage of Charleston’s homes are built close to sea level, few houses have basements. If the housing is on a flood plain, it typically can’t have living space on the first level. Many Charleston residences have a FROG, or finished-room-over-garage, to add additional space.
- Charleston Historic Districts
- The historic districts in each community may have covenants and restrictions that limit the size, changes and sometimes even the color of a house.
- Seasonal Population Changes
- Charleston has many part time residents – particularly on the islands and in the downtown historic area.
- Charleston Recreation
- Charleston’s mild climate allows for year round enjoyment of outdoor activities. There are beautiful beaches, outstanding tennis facilities, plentiful golf courses, camping, hunting, and fishing.
- Charleston Fine Arts
- Charleston is the home of the Spoleto, USA Fine Arts Festival every May, the Charleston Symphony and Pops, The Ballet Theater, visiting concert and Broadway show series, and the Art Walk.
- Sports
- Joe Riley stadium is the home of the Charleston Riverdogs Baseball team. There is also Charleston Stingrays Hockey and Charleston Battery Soccer in addition to a variety of high school and college level sporting events.
- Higher Education
- The College of Charleston, The Citadel (Military College of the South), Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston Southern Univesity, School of the Arts and Trident Technical all call Charleston home.
- Charleston Health & Medical
- Charleston offers seven hospitals that include Medical University Hospital, Roper Hospital, St Francis-Bon Secours Hospital, East Cooper Medical Center, Roper East Cooper Hospital, Trident Medical Center and Charleston VA Hospital. Additionally, Roper and Trident offer satellite locations throughout the area.