Owner FAQ
Why 1 South Property Management
Our Mission:
Our goal is to establish long-term relationships with serious real estate investors who are willing to provide well-maintained homes throughout Mobile and Baldwin Counties. 1 South helps people become financially independent through real estate.
Our Vision:
We offer property management designed to create more value for investors. As investors, we have systems and processes in place to ensure we attract and lease-to quality residents, regularly inspect the homes we manage, and provide routine maintenance, all resulting in maintaining your asset and improving the value over time.
Property Management Services Request Form
Why should I choose 1 South Property Management?
A: No fanfare here, we simply do what we say we are going to do. Our clients tell us this age-old business requirement is hard to find these days.
Is 1 South Property Management Licensed?
A: Yes. Our Brokerage (1 South Property Management, LLC) is registered with the state of Alabama (Number 000126762-0) as required by Alabama State Law.
Do you personally own investment properties?
A: Yes, the 1 South executive team personally owns several single family investment properties in the Mobile area, totaling approximately 8 units.
Do you manage Associations or HOA's?
A: No. We are completely focused on residential property management.
Do you digitally sign documents?
A: Yes. Copies of all documents are available 24/7 through your online owner portal (Mobile App enabled both Android and Apple).
What services do you provide as part of your Property Management Agreement?
A: We are a full-service property management company. All items involved in managing property are handled by our team, including leasing, maintenance, and rent collection. This provides a "hands off" experience for the owner, and can turn investment property into truly passive income.
Can you provide me a rent estimate?
A: Yes. Please inquire and we can work up a rent estimate.
How often do you inspect my property?
A: Several times per year, typically on a quarterly basis. When onsite we check smoke detectors, appliances, HVAC filters, tenant responsibilities, and the general welfare of the property.
How long is your property management agreement for?
A: 1 year minimum.
Can you pay bills for me that are related to the property?
A: Yes, with the exception of HOA dues, mortgage, insurance, and tax payments.
Can personal items be left on the property?
A: We do not recommend leaving personal items at your rental property. We cannot take responsibility for any personal property left at the property. If you do leave personal property at the property, please accept that is may become damaged or go missing.
How do you screen potential residents?
A: We use a time-tested custom rental application and background check service. As part of this screening, we evaluate an applicant's credit score, criminal history, rental history including evictions, sex-offender search, job history and income, as well as other proprietary factors. We require proof of income in the form of pay stubs or bank statements. We contact their current and previous landlords.
Are tenants responsible for utility bills at the property?
A: Yes. We strive to have the tenants pay all utility bills where possible.
What is the average turn-around time between tenants?
A: Once the unit is rent-ready, we tell our clients to anticipate 3 to 5 weeks to rent our a property. It may take shorter or longer depending on pricing and market conditions. We often have an approved applicant the first weekend of our marketing blast, but they often don't move in until a few weeks later.
How do you handle evictions?
A: We use professional local attorneys to complete the court eviction process. Often, we can avoid the eviction process completely by setting up a payment plan and requiring auto-pay.
How much does an eviction cost?
A: To file the eviction paperwork with the county clerk's office is $256 and the attorney charges $125, for a total cost of $381 to start the process. There may be additional attorney fees if it goes to court. The client is responsible for those charges, although we make every effort to recover it from the resident.
I wish for my property to remain smoke-free and would like that included in the lease, is that possible?
A: Yes, we do not allow smoking in any of the units we manage.
What do you need from me to be successful?
A: We need to know how involved you would like to be in the managing of your properties and we need to understand what your goals are with the property.
How do I get started?
A: You can submit a service request and a team member will get back to you within one business day (or less).