Meet The Owner
Ravinell Wilson received a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of North Alabama in 1991. He has worked in nearly all areas of the real estate industry almost exclusively in the Birmingham area since 1995. RENTING EARTH, LLC, his property management company, has over 30 years of combined experience managing properties just like yours.
Mission Statement:
At RENTING EARTH our fundamental goal is to maximize your real estate profits while providing you with accurate and timely financial data so you can track your investments. Your rate of return is not only dependent on the rent revenue generated by your property but also on the cost of maintaining it to keep it safe and habitable.
We are experts in maximizing rent revenue whether it is in determining the initial rent or negotiating yearly rent increases with the Housing Authority or your tenant.
Maintenance:
Maintenance is among our most important jobs. If maintenance requests are not handled correctly, this expense can dramatically decrease your profitability and depress the value of your investment. We pride ourselves in working tirelessly to: (1) keep maintenance cost as low as possible, (2) to maximize your profits, and (3) protect your property investment.
What we charge:
10% of collected rent collected as a Management Fee.
However, if a property is vacant, we do not collect a management fee. Other property management companies will continue to bill you 10% of potential rent even if a property is vacant. In other words - If you are not making money, we are not making money.
Yearly Inspection fee of $125.00 per inspection. You will be charged annually at the time the inspection is done. If we determine repairs are needed this fee is deducted from the final cost of repairs.
The charge for placing a tenant into a vacant property is a full months’ rent, assessed when the first full month’s rent is collected. If the newly placed tenant should move for any reason within six months of occupancy, we will place the next tenant free of charge.
There is a transfer fee of $250 per property when you transfer properties from another management company to RENTING EARTH. And remember, if a property is vacant, we do not charge you a management fee. If you are not making money, we are not making money.
Accounting/Financial Reporting – We utilize AppFolio, a sophisticated accounting-based management software program, allowing you the opportunity to track your real estate investments. Each month you will receive an Enhanced Owners Statement, Delinquency Report (if applicable), Financial Review and Income Statements for each property. At the end of the year, we send you a 1099 along with property expense reports.
How do you handle tenant screening?
Background check, Credit check, Employment Verification, Income Verification and Previous Landlord reference checks.
How do you handle maintenance Issues?
Each unit has a $500 reserve for work orders. Unless you specify otherwise, we will notify you when a repair request is initiated by the tenant. Our maintenance people are trained to determine if the issue is just normal 'wear and tear' or if it caused by the tenant and therefore their responsibility. If the tenant is responsible you will not be charged and we bill the tenant directly. If the issue is determined to be normal 'wear and tear' and the cost is under the $500 reserve limit the repair will be made and you will be given a breakdown of exact cost as soon as it is available (normally within two weeks.) If we determine the repair is likely to be more than the $500 reserve amount we will get an estimate before proceeding forward with work and get your approval before starting repairs. Emergency repairs, those involving preservation of property or tenant well-being will be exempt from this process.
Maintenance costs can dramatically affect your return on investment. That is why we have long established working relationships with multiple 3rd party vendors ensuring quality and superior pricing.
How can you make sure the tenant is taking care of my property?
Through yearly property inspections. You will be charged $125 at the time the inspection is done. If we determine repairs are needed this fee will be deducted from the final cost of repairs.
Do you work with Section 8 or houses on Government assistance?
YES. We are Section 8 Housing Assistance experts. There are three major Housing Authorities in the Birmingham Metro area; Birmingham Housing Authority, Bessemer Housing Authority, and Jefferson County Housing Authority. We have built a close, efficient working relationship with the caseworkers, inspectors and office personnel in all three Housing Authorities allowing us the ability to get your property earning money as quickly as possible.
We pride ourselves in knowing how to get the highest rent payment, the best strategies to get yearly rent increases and our ability to deal with both move in inspections and annual inspections.
How good are you working with tenants who are responsible for paying their own rent (tenants not on rental assistance)?
Whether you rent your property through Section 8 or to a tenant who is responsible for paying their own rent, we have you covered: pricing strategies, lease renewals, yearly rent increase, past due collections, and evictions. We offer multiple ways for your tenants to pay.
How can Tenants pay?
We accept money orders, debit cards, credit cards, and personal checks. Tenants can pay through the mail, at our office, or online. They can also use our exclusive “Pay near Me” option which allows tenants to pay with cash at any local CVS Pharmacy or WalMart.
Where will you advertise my property for rent?
We market your home on: affordablehousing.com (which specializes in properties eligible for government assistance), Zillow, Rentingearth.com, Trulia, Apartments.com and multiple other sites.
What areas do you service?
We manage properties throughout the entire Greater Birmingham Metro area including all of Jefferson and Shelby Counties.
How do you handle properties that have been vacated?
We have one of our inspectors go through your property to determine if the previous tenant is entitled to the return of the security deposit. If the property is in rentable condition and only has normal 'wear and tear', the deposit will be returned to the tenant and the property will be made rent ready and put on the market.
If the property is in need of repairs beyond normal 'wear and tear', we will provide you with a complete list of needed repairs and probable cost to get the property rent ready. Once you approve the repair list and the budget, we will proceed with required repairs to get your property rented as quickly as possible. The cost of repairs will be charged to the previous tenant and will be filed against their credit report if not paid in a timely fashion.
If a property is vacant, we do not charge you a management fee. Once again - If you are not making money, we are not making money.
How do you handle property rehabs, major restorations?
If you have a property that is in need of extensive repairs or a complete rehab before it can be rented, we will send an inspector to the property and prepare a comprehensive list of required repairs, estimated cost of repairs and time lines. We are as good with rehabs as we are with routine maintenance.
How do you deal with transferring properties from another property management company?
Once you and your current management company have agreed to part ways, we will handle all aspects of the transfer. We will contact your previous management company to get copies of leases, Section 8 paperwork, if applicable, tenant ledgers and arrange for the transfer of the security deposit.
There is a $250 transfer fee for taking over a property that is currently occupied and being managed by another management company.
What do you need from me to get started?
We will need applicable tax information, form of ownership, tax ID, banking information for direct deposit of rent collections (recommended). We will also need your contact information, along with a property description and tenant information.
PROPERTIES FOR SALE
Currently listed on rentingearth.com
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is your application fee?
$35.00 for each occupant over the age of 19 or anyone whose income is being used to qualify for the property.
What is the minimum, income required to rent a property?
We do not have a minimum income to rent. The amount of money needed to qualify for a property is based upon how many other bills you are obligated to pay each month. We want you to be able to make your rental payments and still have money for utilities, food, and other living expenses.
Do you run my credit history, criminal background check and contact my rental references?
YES. We do a background and credit check on every applicant.
What is the minimum credit score you require?
We do not have a minimum credit score; every application is reviewed on its merit. We review credit files to determine how you have paid debts in the past.
If someone else gets approved for the property, do I get my application fee back?
YES. We will not process your application until you are first in line to be evaluated for the property. Your application will be used to hold your place in line and if the person in front of you is turned down, your application will be processed and the application fee will be charged.
Do you allow pets?
Most of our owners allow pets. The amount of the pet deposit will be disclosed in the advertisement for the property for rent.
What day is rent due?
Rent is due by the 5th of the month.
What is the Late Fee if I do not pay on time?
Tenants who pay after the 5th but before the 9thwill be charged a $35 late fee. Payments received after the 10th will be charged a $75.00 late fee.
How can I pay my rent?
You can pay with a money order, credit card or debit card or online through our tenant's portal. We accept payments at our office, by U.S. mail, through our web site and through our exclusive “Pay Near Me” option.
What is Pay Near Me?
It is a convenient, low-cost way to pay your rent using select stores in your neighborhood. We will give you a laminated bar code which you can keep on your key ring. Go to any WalMart or CVS Pharmacy, the cashier will scan the bar code, your payment will be credited to your account, and you will receive a receipt to prove payment.
Who is responsible for yard maintenance?
If you are living in a single-family residence, you are responsible for all yard maintenance. If the city assesses a fine for tall grass, trash, or any other exterior landscaping item, the fine will be added to your rent. If this fine is not paid, it can be cause for eviction and will go against your credit record if not paid before moving out. If you live in an apartment building, we will be responsible for yard maintenance.
What property maintenance am I responsible for as a tenant?
If you cause damage to a property beyond normal 'wear and tear' it will be your financial responsibility to pay for that damage. Examples could include broken windows, holes in walls or damaged flooring.
You are NOT responsible for the HVAC (unless the damage is caused by not replacing the air filter regularly), the water heater, leaky roofs, electrical issues, or other water leaks. It is very important to report water leaks immediately. They can cause extensive damage to the property and create large water bills that you will be responsible for paying.
Can I paint the interior of my home?
All color changes must be approved prior to painting. If the painted wall color must be changed after you move out, the cost of repainting will be deducted from your deposit or added to an amount owed.
Where do I report a maintenance issue?
The best place to report a maintenance issue is online through your tenant portal. Through the portal, you can upload photos and leave detailed information on your problem. We will get it resolved as quickly as possible.
What do I do if there is a maintenance emergency?
You can report maintenance emergencies on our emergency number 205-555-5555. This number is not to be used for non-emergency situations.
Do you accept Section 8 payments?
Most of our owners accept Section 8 applicants. If a property is not eligible for Section 8 housing assistance it will be clearly stated in the property advertisement.
CONTACT
