Birmingham Rental Investment

[Silas B.]

Hi all! We are about to get our FIRST rental home and then the next step is getting it rented. I am doing this from out of state and any advice on what is needed or how to structure things would be great.

Landscaping service, should I provide this for the tenant or should the tenant do it? I like the desert landscaping of multch, rocks, and plants that use little water but not sure if that is a good option for Birmingham AL?

Liability, should I get some sort of general liability insurance or is landlord insurance enough? Homeowner / Landlord insurance good? Other options?

Property management, since it's out of state, it seems obvious to have management. Any advice on how to choose a good company besides seeing the google reviews?

The area is Birmingham AL.

Any other advice? Thanks so much!

[Dena Puliatti]

Congratulations! I'm in Huntsville, which is about an hour and half north of Birmingham. The mulch, rocks, and plants should be ok. We are in the same growing zone in Huntsville - 7b. If they planted cactus or palms for staging, those plants aren't going to make it. In our lease, yard is tenant responsibility. Some homes have a particularly picky HOA. In those, often the owner pays for landscaping and builds it into the rent.

General liability and landlord insurance is always a good choice.  

I'm not in a position to be able to recommend a management company for you.  However, definitely call around.  See who answers the phone, returns calls in a timely manner, and compare the property management agreements until you are happy with your PM.  Best of luck!