Downtown Short Term Rental

This 2 bedroom apartment on Smith St was a historic upfit for short term rental with a budget of $180,000. This was a true down-to-the-stud renovation with a complete rewiring, replumbing, new hvac, windows, and finishes. It was long used as a college rental, and needed our touch to bring it into the realm of a luxury short term rental gem. It features all the typical O'Connor Homes upgrades like a job-built tile shower, refinished hardwoods, quartz countertops, and clean trimwork.

Downtown Short-Term Rental Renovation on
Smith Street

This two-bedroom apartment on Smith Street was transformed from a long-used college rental into a luxury short-term rental. With a budget of $280,000 O'Connor Homes completed a true down-to-the-stud historic upfit with complete rewiring, replumbing, new HVAC, windows, and finishes.

JUMP TO:

From College Rental to Luxury Short-Term Rental

The apartment had been used as a college rental for years and needed more than a cosmetic update. The renovation took the property down to the studs, allowing the major systems and finishes to be addressed as part of one comprehensive project.

The result is a completely updated short-term rental with new systems, refreshed original features, and the custom details that define the finished space.

Downtown Charleston property converted to a luxury short-term rental

The Challenge:

A True Down-to-the-Stud Renovation

This project included major updates throughout the apartment:

  • Complete Rewiring—The apartment was completely rewired as part of the renovation.
  • Full Replumbing—All plumbing was replaced during the down-to-the-stud renovation.
  • New HVAC —A new HVAC system was installed as part of the property-wide update.
  • New Windows and Finishes—New windows and finishes completed the renovation from the structure outward.

The Details That Finish
the Space

  • Job-Built Tile Shower—The bathroom features a custom tile shower built on-site as part of the renovation.
  • Refinished Hardwood Floors—The existing hardwood floors were refinished, retaining original character while giving them a fresh, finished appearance.
  • Quartz Countertops—New quartz countertops add a clean, updated finish to the kitchen.
  • Clean Trimwork—New and updated trimwork completes the finished look throughout the apartment.
Finished design details in a downtown Charleston rental renovation

After

Why Choose O'Connor Homes for Your Rental Upfit in Charleston

A short-term rental renovation can involve much more than updating the finishes. When a property needs new systems, structural access, and a complete interior renovation, the work needs to be coordinated from the start.

O’Connor Homes brings hands-on involvement to rental upfits, managing the renovation from the initial scope through completion.

Start Your Rental Upfit with O'Connor Homes

Planning to turn an older Charleston property into a short-term rental? Contact O’Connor Homes to discuss your renovation project. We work with property owners throughout Downtown Charleston and the surrounding South Carolina Lowcountry.

Let's Build Something Together

Frequently Asked Questions

A short-term rental upfit is a renovation that prepares a property for use as a short-term rental. Depending on the property’s condition, that can include new systems, windows, finishes, kitchens, bathrooms, and other updates.

This two-bedroom Smith Street apartment was renovated with a budget of $280,000. The project included complete rewiring and replumbing, new HVAC, windows, finishes, and custom interior upgrades.

A down-to-the-stud renovation removes the existing interior finishes so major systems and other components can be replaced or updated before the new finishes are installed. This project included complete rewiring, replumbing, new HVAC, windows, and finishes.

Yes. The hardwood floors in this Smith Street apartment were refinished as part of the renovation rather than replaced.

The finished apartment includes a job-built tile shower, refinished hardwood floors, quartz countertops, and clean trimwork, along with the property’s new systems, windows, and finishes.