I would like to say that if / whenever in the need to sell a home, Forrest Wolfe is the agent to contact. In a stressful time of selling a home, he makes you feel at ease. Forrest is a wonderful agent , very confident, motivated, & most importantly someone that you know is on your side & has your best interest at heart. He took a great deal of worry off my plate, went out of his way on many occasions to ensure a positive outcome, & really took the time to explain the "process" to me. I would definitely contact him again if ever in the position to buy or sell my home.
My experience was not positive. We live out of state and rented our home in Georgia for 6 years using Backyard Reality. Our first agent, Jean was good, but after that I felt like they did not care. We selected Backyard Reality over 6 years ago, because they also managed our neighborhood association. I thought because they managed both it would benefit us twice. Example I thought if our rental property was outside of compliance with the covenants they could get it taken care of internally. However, I was told many times, when I received a violation letter from Backyard Reality, they do not share this information with the property management employee who sits down the hall. In stead I had to send it back to Backyard Reality, so they could then take care of it... There communication was very poor. They would tell you they would call you before the plumber would do anything, but you would then get a bill in your next statement for a new toilet. When selling my home they would not send updates and never initiated any pricing adjustments. I had to call them and ask for updates and suggest lowering the price. Yes they listed my house, but that was the end. They never showed it and they never provided updates. Instead of selling it they just were waiting for it to sell. We did finally sell the home, but for $10,000 below the tax estimate. You might ask why we stayed with them. When the housing market crashed we just needed a management company. They did ok and I felt their contract would make it tough to change companies especially with a tenant. So, there contract also made them the Realtor if I sold the home.
If I could give a zero, I would. This company is all about getting your money and charging fines and not willing to do anything they say they will. He does this for so long that all you want to do is just pay the fine and move the heck out of the neighborhood. The only problem the fine is ridiculous and I will not pay it not only because I can not afford that much money but they are so unprofessional! Do not move into any neighborhood where they manage the HOA your life will be horrible, and they will make you regret buying your home! I wish never moved into my neighborhood! Do not ever do any business with Mike Tolley or his associate Zack Beaver! They will screw you over any way they can and take all your money!
I have enjoyed my time with Backyard Realty as they have been terrific. Casey Sellers is the absolute BEST! She listens to understand and she WILL deliver a resolution for any concerns that you might have while living in one of the properties that she manages. I highly recommend.
Currently working with Backyard Realty group da Tolley Community Management. I have sent 25 emails to Sean, and Jayme was cc in several. I have asked for late fee waivers due to covid. Trying to request help due to 20 percent fees per month on the Hoa of the Overlook in Marietta, GA. Sent 25 emails and called countless times and have not received a response except for once. I am so tired of trying to communicate with the HOA managers and receive no return emails or calls for weeks. It has been very stressful. Asking for a manager now. We will see how long that response takes.
Casey and Forrest are an absolute dream to work with. When I first found my rental home with them I genuinely thought they were too good to be true, but they re definitely not! They are amazing and make everything so easy. They both genuinely care about you and the experience you get from renting from them. I would highly recommend backyard realty for any of your real estate needs!
DO NOT TRUST THIS COMPANY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >:( If I was able to give this company less than 0 stars I would give it to them! It is the worst company that I have rent for in my life, because they stole almost $700 worth of deposit. They had told me that they were charging me $1,100 for the "dirty walls" according to them, in addition $140 that I owed them apparently. I agreed to paint the walls for them so hired a prestigious painting company, but they still kept my deposit. I had lived there for almost a year so there had been some changes to the apartment, thats why I hired the company to fix them, so I would get my deposit back but they kept it. When I got the check of $470 out of $1100 of deposit I only got back $400 so they basically robbed me. So I called the supposed manager for him to show me the "dirty walls" he saw and he charging for, but I have prof that everything was in perfect conditions. To this this day I have received a call. Do not rent or do any business with them you will regret it.
In my opinion there could not be a worst management company. They claim to have the best interest for the client. I was very unsatisfied with the companies performance. After researching other options the association changed property management companies.
Backyard Realty Group are amazing! We couldn't ask for a better company to rent from. The people that work there are always doing everything they can to help and make sure you are taken care of. My family and I will be using them to buy a home also.
Liz Koehler was very professional and quick to respond to our company when we requested HOA information for a property.
I dealt primarily with Forrest Wolfe in the renting of my house. He had several potential renters within a week of listing my house and he screened several prospects and found me a renter who met all of my criteria. Their fees are fair and reasonable...especially for the professionalism you get. Forrest Wolfe is very professional and personable. I highly recommend them.
Backyard Realty manages our portfolio of investment properties. Since the day they took over we've never looked back. Their questions are direct, and their response times are excellent whenever a concern arises.
AVOID AT ALL COST. Potential Scam Artist. Crooks and Thieves. Slow Lazy and unprofessional.
I have been a renter for going on 3 years under Backyard Realty Group's management. When I had a microwave breakdown in the kitchen, they were right there to fix it. When I had an issue with a rain gutter, they were right there as well. I noticed my water bill was higher than normal one month, they were right there to fix the toilet leaking around the seal. Whatever my needs, they were there with courtesy and right on time. I would highly recommend them as the go-to management company.
Unprofessional. Rude. Poor communication. Worst property management company ever. Don't use them. Wish I could give them 0 or negative stars.
This company is taking people's money left and right. You do not want to deal with these people!! They are uncooperative and do not care about anything you have to say. Not willing to work with you on any issues. In my case, we applied for a house to rent and asked to see the lease before we sent in our employment verification. They would NOT even let us see the lease for the house even though we had ALREADY paid the application fee! If there was nothing wrong with the lease, why would it have been such a big deal to let us see it? ALL THEY WANT IS YOUR MONEY!!!! STAY AWAY!
I really enjoyed working with this nice group of people. Casey and Forrest both were easy to talk with and they made the transition into our new home easy going. First week in the home they were quick to fix any issues and made she that we were comfortable.
I had a great experience working with John Cenni as a realtor. He was always on top of everything and followed up with me on everything and very helpful. I will def use him again if needed for buying a house. Thank you John!
They are excellent to work with and very responsive. I am working with then for about 4 Years and not had any issue. Forrest and Jen are best. New manager Casey is also very good fit to team and add great value to Backyard Realty. 2019: January: Again had great experience with Casey. Very helpful and prompt to reply email and providing documents.. Thank you guys..
We had a wonderful experince both selling and buying a new home with Backyard Realty!
The Tolleys have managed my community's HOA for 8 years now. I have dealt with their managers as a homeowner and as a representative on my HOA Board. They manage our community according to our policies and state law, but routinely make great effort to help individual homeowners. Their company works with a network of service contractors that keep our property attractive, and keep our community fees low. I would recommend the Tolleys to anyone seeking community management services.
I hired Backyard Realty Group to manage a property for me in 2014. When we initially met about the property and talked about how involved I wanted to be, I told them "I never want to have to think about this house again." I am happy to report that I really haven't. In 4 years, I was never a month without a tenant, and in fact, I had the same tenant 3 years in a row. That's just a testament to how committed the company is to keeping both tenants and owners happy. Yes, of course things went wrong with my property along the way as they tend to do, but my property manager always communicated the issues immediately, offered options and gained approval before making the repairs. I highly recommend Backyard Realty Group to anyone who needs stress-free, professional property management.
Casey Sellers was my property manager for several years, and she was always helpful and responded in a timely manner whenever I needed maintenance or had general questions. Thanks for the great rental experience!
We have worked with Backyard for several years now. Jenn and her team are true professionals!
Our experience with Forrest Wolfe has always been excellent. Forrest is very professional, proficient and knowledageble. He always treated my husband and I as if we were his top priority. We have worked with him for years with our rental property up until we sold it. We never had to worry when dealing with Forrest. He is a man of his word and we appreciate all that he did for us. I know many agents that could learn a thing or two from Forrest. Hands down he is the BEST agent ever!!!
I wish I could put a zero for a rating. Unprofessional, negligent and unfriendly describes the owner best. Most of our HOA members agree this fellow is rude and sarcastic. He treats the people who are paying him with disdain and condescension, sending flaming, patronizing emails to his paying clientele (eating away at the hand that feeds him). The absence of care extended to the HOA members paying him is astounding. In this service oriented economy, I don't see how Tolley can stay in business. Employees of Tolley come across as miserable; their response to clients is low and slow, and attrition is high. Tolley Community Management fails to follow up. Repeatedly. Terrible service. Fails to correct problems. (Same dead landscaping has existed on our property for over two years.) This property manager will let an external water line leak go for days (while the streets flood and the water bill for HOA members runs up). They hire their own contractors who can rarely finish a job and have to keep coming back to re-do the same work because they don't get it right the first, second, or third times. Tolley increased its fees just months after being hired by our HOA (in the old bait and switch) and, in return, we receive even *less* service. Yes, less than zero. As if that's possible. As evident from his hateful emails to homeowners, the owner comes across as hating people (except the HOA Board members that he appeases; this keeps the payments coming in). The overall community perception is that he cares only about being paid. I cannot believe our HOA continues to Tolley them despite the unbelievably anti-homeowner attitude of the owner and many, many complaints of homeowners against Tolley. Same inept contractors continue to get paid for repeat "repairs." A neighbor once wondered out loud who's pockets are getting lined here.... Hmmm. Good point. For example, Tolley hires *their* plumber to re-dig the *same* hole to correct the *same* leak a FOURTH time; clearly the plumber is inept, yet Tolley continues to pay these guys out of HOA member pockets. Follow-through is non-existent for small or large issues. Complaints go unheard. Shocking, sarcastic responses comprise the norm. The general HOA member perception is that the "power" exertion gives the owner some sort of perverted pleasure. Also, they are located in Woodstock and rarely show up to the property, so if you are in Atlanta, don't even think about signing up these guys.
Amy Bezdek is amazing! She is always doing everything she can to take care of her HOA customers, she truly cares about them. I work for a local pool company and we've worked on multiple projects together. From day one Amy has always had her customers best interests in mind. She follows up daily to make sure the project is completed on time and done right. She's a true pleasure to work with and this day and age isn't nice to meet someone who really cares about their customer and takes pride in their job.
Sal did a phenomenal job for us in both managing our property (even when our renter filed bankruptcy and made our lives a living hell) and was great in keeping us up to date on the court proceedings and our legal options. After that a Sal got our house listed and sold within 2 days and was incredibly helpful throughout the entire process. I cannot recommend BYR and Sal specifically highly enough. 10/10.
