Everything property owners, out-of-state investors, and tenants need to know about working with BAKK Properties — from marketing and rent collection to maintenance and legal compliance, all managed through DoorLoop's platform.
Getting started is straightforward. Text or call us at (205) 886-9204 or email [email protected]. Rick Davis, our founder and broker, will schedule a property evaluation — either in person or via video call for out-of-state owners. We assess your property's rental potential, discuss current market rates in your specific Tuscaloosa County location, and present a written management proposal. From signed agreement to tenant placement, most properties lease inside 30 days.
We manage single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes, four-unit properties, and townhomes across the full Tuscaloosa County area — Tuscaloosa, Northport, Brookwood, Vance, Cottondale, Holt, Lake View, McCalla, Centreville, Coaling, Coker, and Fosters. We do not manage large apartment complexes (more than 4 units) or traditional student housing dorm-style buildings. We specialize in residential rentals for working professionals, families, Mercedes-Benz employees, UA faculty and graduate students, DCH medical staff, and industrial workers.
Absolutely — out-of-state owners are a core part of our business. Owners living in California, Texas, Florida, or anywhere outside Alabama get one local point of contact: Rick Davis. We handle every aspect: showings, lease signing, monthly rent collection with ACH deposit to your bank, maintenance coordination through your personalized DoorLoop portal (so you never fly in for a leaky water heater), annual tax documentation, and 24/7 emergency response. You get monthly statements and real-time access through our owner portal. We manage properties for owners who haven't set foot in Tuscaloosa in years.
Our management fee is a competitive percentage of the monthly collected rent — typically 10% for most single-family homes and small multi-unit properties in Tuscaloosa County. There is also a leasing fee (one-time) for tenant placement, which covers professional photography, multi-platform listing syndication (Zillow, Apartments.com, Realtor.com, BAKK Properties website), showings, DoorLoop-powered screening, and lease execution. There are no hidden fees and no markup on maintenance. We provide a transparent fee schedule during your initial property evaluation. Call (205) 886-9204 for a specific quote on your property.
We offer a tenant placement guarantee. If a tenant we placed leaves before the lease term ends (for reasons other than landlord default), we re-market and re-lease the property at a reduced placement fee. Most of our tenants stay long-term because the DoorLoop screening process is thorough and we match tenants carefully to each specific property and neighborhood in Tuscaloosa County.
The average time from listing to lease signing is 14–30 days for properties that are market-ready (clean, well-maintained, and priced at current market rates). Listings go live on Zillow, Apartments.com, Realtor.com, and our website within 48 hours of being photograph-ready. Properties near Mercedes-Benz in Vance/Brookwood and near the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa/Northport tend to lease fastest due to consistent demand from plant workers, UA faculty, and DCH medical professionals.
We provide a free written rent-versus-sell analysis using current Tuscaloosa, Northport, and McCalla comparable sales and rental data. Factors we evaluate include current home value, projected monthly rent, annual cash flow after all expenses, tax implications, and long-term appreciation outlook for your specific area. Many owners who assume they must sell find that renting generates reliable passive income — especially with demand from the Mercedes-Benz plant, University of Alabama, and DCH Medical Center. Visit our Rent or Sell page to learn more.
We provide full-service property management across all of Tuscaloosa County and into neighboring areas: Tuscaloosa, Northport, Brookwood, Vance, Cottondale, Holt, Lake View, McCalla (Tuscaloosa & Jefferson County line), Centreville (Bibb County), Coaling, Coker, and Fosters. Our office is located at 15706 AL-216 in Brookwood, giving us quick access to the Mercedes-Benz plant area, the I-20/I-59 corridor, and the US Highway 82 corridor. See our full Service Areas page.
Three things set us apart. First, we're hyper-local — our office is in Brookwood, so we physically drive to properties in places other managers skip, like Coker, Fosters, Centreville, and rural Bibb County. Second, we specialize in serving out-of-state owners who need a single trusted point of contact for everything. Third, we leverage DoorLoop's industry-leading screening platform — every applicant goes through credit, criminal background, eviction history, employer verification, and prior landlord references. We put the right tenants in the right properties.
All screening runs through DoorLoop's platform — not by BAKK Properties in-house. The process covers: (1) Credit report review with full payment history; (2) Criminal background check at the county and national level; (3) Eviction history search across all jurisdictions; (4) Employer verification to confirm income, employment status, and for Mercedes-Benz and industrial workers, shift schedules; (5) Prior landlord reference calls to the last two landlords directly. DoorLoop provides the owner a clear recommendation with supporting data on each applicant. Visit our Tenant Screening page for full details.
We follow a standard guideline of gross monthly income at least 3 times the monthly rent. For properties near the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance and Brookwood, we also accept contract workers and supplier engineers with verified assignment letters showing contract duration and compensation. For DCH travel nurses on 13-week contracts, we verify through the staffing agency. We don't apply a one-size-fits-all formula — we evaluate the full picture, which is why our tenant retention is high.
Within 48 hours of your property being market-ready (cleaned, any repairs done, professional photos taken), your listing goes live simultaneously on Zillow, Apartments.com, Realtor.com, and the BAKK Properties website. Each listing includes professional high-resolution photos, accurate square footage, detailed amenity descriptions, proximity to major employers (Mercedes-Benz, UA, DCH), and a floor plan when available. For Mercedes-Benz-area properties, we also market directly to plant HR departments and supplier companies. For UA-area properties, we reach faculty housing offices and DCH staffing coordinators.
Yes. We manage Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher properties in Tuscaloosa and Bibb County. We handle the annual HUD Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection preparation — we prep the unit, walk the inspector through, and correct any cited items inside the cure period. Section 8 tenants go through the same thorough DoorLoop screening protocol as all applicants. The voucher portion of rent is paid directly by the housing authority, providing reliable income for owners. We stay current on all Housing Authority of Tuscaloosa and Bibb County HUD requirements.
Yes — this is one of our specialties. Our office is on Alabama Highway 216 in Brookwood, minutes from the Mercedes-Benz U.S. International plant in Vance. We market vacancies directly to plant employees, contractors, and tier-one supplier engineers. We understand shift-work scheduling (three-shift rotation) and verify employment stability through the plant's contractor management office. Furnished short-term and unfurnished long-term options are available. Visit our Mercedes-Benz Area Rentals page.
Rent is due on the 1st of each month and tenants pay through our secure online tenant portal. We handle all follow-up: late notices per Alabama law, returned-payment processing, and communication with tenants who are past due. After deducting our management fee and any approved expenses, we disburse the net rent to the owner's bank account via ACH direct deposit — typically by the 10th of the month. You receive a detailed monthly owner statement showing all income and expenses. You never have to chase a tenant for rent.
Yes. Every owner receives a year-end financial package by the end of January: a full annual statement, complete transaction history, depreciation-ready expense detail (organized by IRS categories), and a 1099 if required by the IRS. Your tax preparer gets a clean Schedule E packet — just hand it over. We track every deductible expense throughout the year so you maximize your rental property tax benefits.
We follow the Alabama Landlord-Tenant Act precisely. When rent is late, we issue the required notice with the legally mandated grace period. If the tenant fails to cure, we serve a seven-day notice to pay or vacate. If the tenant still doesn't pay, we coordinate filing the unlawful detainer at the Tuscaloosa County District Court and represent the owner at the hearing where Alabama law permits. Throughout the process, we keep the owner informed at every step. The goal is always to resolve before eviction, but when necessary, we handle the full legal process.
All owners get access to our secure online owner portal. You can log in 24/7 to view real-time financial reports, monthly statements, maintenance requests with photos, lease documents, and tax records. If you own multiple properties across Tuscaloosa County, you get one dashboard showing all your properties consolidated. We also email monthly statements directly. Visit our Owner Portal page to log in.
Net rent (collected rent minus management fee and any approved expenses) is disbursed via ACH direct deposit to your bank account typically by the 10th day of each month. If the 10th falls on a weekend or bank holiday, disbursement occurs on the next business day. You'll receive an email notification when the deposit is initiated along with your monthly owner statement.
Tenants submit maintenance requests through their portal or by calling our office. For routine issues, we dispatch a licensed, insured Tuscaloosa County vendor from our pre-vetted network. For larger jobs (over a pre-set threshold), we get owner approval before proceeding. Emergency repairs — plumbing leaks, HVAC failures in extreme weather, security issues — are handled immediately through our 24/7 after-hours line. The owner receives a receipt with photos before any invoice clears. There is no markup on maintenance — you pay what the vendor charges.
We operate a 24/7 emergency maintenance line. Tenants call the after-hours number and reach a live person — not a voicemail. For true emergencies (active water leak, no heat in freezing weather, HVAC failure during an Alabama summer, security breach), we dispatch a licensed vendor immediately. The owner is notified the next business day with a detailed report and photos. Non-emergency calls received after hours are triaged and addressed the next business day. Our network includes plumbers, HVAC technicians, electricians, roofers, and general contractors across Tuscaloosa County.
Yes — we conduct three types of inspections. (1) Move-in inspection: a written room-by-room condition report with photo log, signed by the tenant. (2) Quarterly or semi-annual interior inspections (depending on property type and owner preference) to catch maintenance issues before they become expensive. (3) Move-out inspection: same room-by-room format, compared against the move-in report for security deposit accounting. For rural properties in Centreville, Coker, Fosters, and Bibb County, we also schedule monthly drive-by exterior inspections. All inspection reports are uploaded to your owner portal with photos.
West Alabama sees hail, tornado, and freeze-related property damage every year. When a storm hits a managed property, we: (1) Immediately document all damage with photos and written assessment; (2) File the insurance claim on the owner's behalf with their carrier; (3) Coordinate with licensed, insured restoration vendors for mitigation and repairs; (4) Track the claim through to completion. You don't have to fly in or manage the adjuster from out of state. We handle the entire process and keep you updated.
No. We do not add any markup to maintenance or repair costs. You pay exactly what the vendor invoices — we pass through all costs at cost. This is a key differentiator from some national property management chains that add a percentage or flat fee on top of every vendor invoice. We believe in complete transparency. You'll see the vendor's original invoice alongside your monthly statement.
We maintain a pre-vetted network of licensed, insured, and bonded contractors across all of Tuscaloosa County — plumbers, HVAC technicians, electricians, roofers, painters, flooring specialists, general contractors, and restoration companies. Every vendor in our network carries appropriate Alabama licensing and general liability insurance. We've built relationships with vendors who serve everywhere from downtown Tuscaloosa to rural Bibb County, so response times are fast regardless of where your property is located.
Yes. Every lease we draft references the Alabama Landlord-Tenant Act (Code of Alabama Title 35, Chapter 9A), including proper security deposit limits, notice periods for entry and lease termination, late fee provisions, and maintenance responsibilities. Our standard agreement is reviewed by legal counsel and updated whenever Alabama statutes change. This is critical for out-of-state owners who shouldn't be signing a generic template from another state that may contain provisions unenforceable or illegal in Alabama. Visit our Alabama Landlord-Tenant Law page for more.
Under Alabama law, the eviction process begins with a seven-day written notice to pay or vacate (for non-payment of rent). If the tenant fails to cure within seven days, we file an unlawful detainer complaint with the Tuscaloosa County District Court. A hearing is typically scheduled within 10-21 days. At the hearing, we represent the owner (where Alabama law permits property managers to appear on behalf of owners). If the court rules in the owner's favor, a writ of possession is issued and executed by the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's office. The full process typically takes 3-6 weeks from initial notice to possession. We handle every step.
Alabama law limits security deposits to the equivalent of one month's rent (with some exceptions). BAKK Properties holds all security deposits in a separate escrow account as required by Alabama statute. At move-out, we complete a detailed inspection against the move-in condition report, determine any deductions for damages beyond normal wear and tear, and provide the tenant with an itemized disposition within the legally required timeframe (60 days in Alabama). Our photo documentation from both move-in and move-out ensures deductions hold up if challenged in small claims court.
Yes. Rick Davis is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Alabama, and BAKK Properties is a fully licensed and insured property management firm operating in compliance with Alabama Real Estate Commission (AREC) regulations. We carry general liability insurance and errors & omissions coverage. All trust accounts are maintained in compliance with Alabama law, and we follow AREC continuing education requirements to stay current on regulatory changes.
First-time landlords in Alabama need to understand: (1) Alabama Landlord-Tenant Act requirements for security deposits, notice periods, and habitability standards; (2) Fair Housing Act compliance — you cannot discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin; (3) Proper lease documentation that complies with Alabama law; (4) Tax implications of rental income. BAKK Properties handles all of this for you. We provide hands-on support throughout the process, and with professional management, your first rental property is entirely hands-off.
Browse available properties on our Available Rentals page. When you find one you're interested in, schedule a showing by calling (205) 886-9204 or filling out the contact form. After viewing, you'll complete an application that includes consent for background screening: credit check, criminal background check, eviction history, employer verification, and prior landlord references. There is a non-refundable application fee. We process applications within 2-3 business days. If approved, we'll contact you to sign the lease and arrange move-in.
All rent payments are made through our secure online tenant portal. You can pay via ACH bank transfer (no fee) or debit/credit card (processing fee applies). The portal also shows your payment history, current balance, and upcoming due dates. You can set up automatic recurring payments so you never miss a due date. Visit our Tenant Portal to log in.
Submit maintenance requests through your tenant portal — include a description of the issue and photos if helpful. For routine requests, we respond within one business day to triage and dispatch a vendor. For emergencies (active water leak, HVAC failure in extreme weather, security issue), call our office immediately at (205) 886-9204 during business hours, or use the after-hours emergency line provided in your lease package. Do not submit emergency requests through the portal — call us directly.
Some of our properties are pet-friendly, depending on the owner's preference. Pet policies vary by property — some accept dogs and cats with breed restrictions and weight limits, some accept cats only, and some are strictly no-pet. Properties that accept pets typically require a non-refundable pet deposit and/or monthly pet rent. Check individual listings on our Available Rentals page for each property's specific pet policy, or call us at (205) 886-9204 to ask.
Yes. We offer both furnished short-term (3-6 month) and unfurnished long-term (12-month) lease options, particularly near the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance/Brookwood and near DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa. Short-term furnished units are popular with MBUSI contractors on project assignments, travel nurses on 13-week DCH contracts, and supplier engineers on temporary relocation. Contact us directly at (205) 886-9204 to discuss your specific timeline and we'll match you with available properties.
Yes — McCalla is one of our active service areas. Properties in McCalla are uniquely positioned because they feed both the Birmingham job market (via I-459) and the Tuscaloosa job market (via I-20/I-59). We market McCalla listings to dual-commute tenants who work in either metro area. We also target Mercedes-Benz supplier employees working at tier-one and tier-two facilities along the I-20/I-59 corridor. Visit our McCalla Property Management page for details.
Absolutely — and this is one area where we differ from larger management companies. Many firms won't drive out to rural properties along the US Highway 82 corridor or into Bibb County. We do. Our office in Brookwood puts us within reasonable driving distance of Centreville, Coker, Fosters, and all of Bibb County. We schedule monthly drive-bys and quarterly interior inspections — not just emails. These properties receive the same rigorous screening, listing, and management protocol as our downtown Tuscaloosa properties. Visit our Centreville, Coker, and Fosters pages.
We manage residential rentals near the University of Alabama, but we focus on housing for faculty, staff, graduate students, and DCH medical professionals — not traditional undergraduate student housing or dorm-style buildings. Our UA-area properties are quiet, well-maintained homes for professional tenants who work or study at the university. We screen carefully for the stability and respectfulness that faculty landlords expect. Visit our University of Alabama Area Properties page.
Yes. Waterfront homes around Lake Tuscaloosa and the Black Warrior River require special attention — especially when owners live out of state. We provide year-round caretaking: quarterly inspections that include dock, seawall, and shoreline assessment; seasonal rental placement (summer peak for lakefront properties); and careful tenant matching to ensure respect for waterfront access and neighborhood character. Waterfront properties often command premium rents when properly marketed. Call (205) 886-9204 to discuss your lake or river property.
Yes — we specialize in new construction rental activation. For a new build in Northport or along the US Highway 43 corridor, we move the property from certificate of occupancy to occupied inside 60 days. The process: professional photo shoot, multi-platform listing within 48 hours, targeted marketing to UA faculty and DCH professionals, coordinated showings, rigorous tenant screening, and Alabama-compliant lease execution. Cash flow starts immediately. Visit our Northport Property Management page.
Yes — portfolio management is one of our strengths. Investors with three to twenty doors across Tuscaloosa, Cottondale, Holt, Lake View, and beyond get one consolidated dashboard, one point of contact (Rick Davis), and one monthly owner statement per property with a portfolio summary. We run the portfolio like a small business: staggered lease end dates to prevent vacancy stacking, proactive renewal scheduling, preventive maintenance planning, and effective occupancy targets above 90%. You get the benefits of scale without the administrative headache.
Yes. Duplexes and 3-4 unit properties inside Tuscaloosa city limits are a core part of our management portfolio. Multi-unit properties require more active turnover planning — we stagger lease end dates so all units don't go vacant simultaneously, schedule renewals 60-90 days before lease expiration, and target effective occupancy above 90%. We also handle the unique maintenance challenges of multi-unit buildings (shared systems, common areas, multiple tenant relationships). Visit our Property Types page for more.
Sixty days before each lease ends, the owner receives a renewal recommendation backed by three data points: (1) current Tuscaloosa County rent comparables for similar properties in the same area; (2) the tenant's payment history and maintenance record; and (3) the unit's current condition and any capital improvements made. The owner reviews and approves or declines — no chasing paperwork. We handle the renewal negotiation, lease amendment, and execution directly with the tenant. This process keeps vacancies low and rent aligned with the market.
Yes. Rick Davis has deep knowledge of the Tuscaloosa County investment market. We can help you identify undervalued properties in growing corridors (like the I-20/I-59 Mercedes supplier corridor, areas near DCH and UA, and emerging neighborhoods in Northport and Cottondale), project rental income based on real market data (not estimates), and project cash-on-cash returns before you buy. We also offer new construction rental setup for investors building in West Alabama. Visit our Investor Resources page or call (205) 886-9204.
No. Our management fee is a percentage of collected rent — when the property is vacant and no rent is being collected, you don't pay the management fee. There are no monthly minimums or retainers during vacancy periods. We only earn when you earn. This aligns our interests with yours: we're motivated to keep your property leased to qualified tenants with minimal downtime between tenancies.
There are no startup or onboarding fees. We conduct a free property evaluation and provide a written management proposal at no cost. The only initial cost is the one-time leasing fee when we place a tenant, which covers professional photography, multi-platform listing syndication (Zillow, Apartments.com, Realtor.com, BAKK Properties website), showings, tenant screening, and Alabama-compliant lease execution. If you're switching from another management company, we handle the transition — tenant communication, lease transfer, security deposit transfer, and utility account changes — at no extra charge.
We make the transition seamless. First, review your current management agreement for the termination clause (typically 30-60 days written notice). Call us at (205) 886-9204 and we'll assess your property and timeline. Once you give notice to your current manager, we coordinate: tenant communication so your tenants know who to contact, lease document transfer, security deposit transfer (per Alabama escrow requirements), utility account changes, key handoff, and a walk-through inspection to establish the new baseline. We handle the logistics — you just sign the new management agreement. There's no downtime or disruption for your tenants.
Yes — we offer portfolio pricing for owners with multiple properties in Tuscaloosa County. The management fee percentage may decrease at certain portfolio thresholds, and we streamline the owner experience with consolidated monthly reporting across all properties. Contact Rick Davis directly at (205) 886-9204 or [email protected] to discuss your portfolio and receive a customized pricing proposal.
We provide full-service management, but there are a few things outside our scope: (1) We don't manage homeowner association (HOA) relationships — the owner retains responsibility for HOA compliance and communication; (2) Major capital improvements (roof replacement, full HVAC replacement, full renovation) are coordinated with owner approval and the contractor invoices are owner-paid directly; (3) We don't provide legal advice — for complex legal questions, we recommend consulting an Alabama real estate attorney. Everything else — tenant placement, screening, leasing, rent collection, maintenance coordination, inspections, eviction processing, and tax documentation — is included.
Rick Davis is the founder and broker of BAKK Properties Property Management. He has over 15 years of experience serving property owners and investors across Tuscaloosa County. As a licensed Alabama Real Estate Broker, Rick personally oversees every property in the BAKK portfolio. He lives in the Tuscaloosa area and has deep roots in the community — he understands the local rental markets, the major employers (Mercedes-Benz, UA, DCH), and the unique needs of out-of-state owners. Rick is the person you'll speak with when you call (205) 886-9204. Read more on our About page.
Our office is at 15706 AL-216, Brookwood, AL 35444 — strategically located minutes from the Mercedes-Benz U.S. International plant in Vance, with quick access to the I-20/I-59 corridor, US Highway 82, and all of Tuscaloosa County. This central location means we can physically visit properties across our entire service area: from downtown Tuscaloosa and Northport to McCalla, Centreville, Coker, and Fosters.
Our office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Central Time. For maintenance emergencies after hours, tenants have access to our 24/7 emergency line — a live person answers, not voicemail. Owners can reach Rick Davis directly at (205) 886-9204 or [email protected] anytime.
Text or call us at (205) 886-9204, email [email protected], or visit our Contact page. You can also text or call us at (205) 886-9204 or email [email protected]. Rick Davis personally responds to all inquiries — you'll speak with the decision-maker from day one.
Rick Davis is happy to answer them personally. No sales pitch — just straight answers from someone who knows Tuscaloosa County property management inside and out.