Ocean South Properties has grown into a thriving vacation rental business from a single beachfront condo to managing 40 properties along Alabama’s stunning Gulf Coast. What started as a personal investment turned into a passion for delivering exceptional guest experiences and expertly managing properties—all while balancing full-time jobs and family life.
Can you tell us a little bit about your history?
Our family lives in Louisiana but has always vacationed on the Alabama Gulf Coast, which is 4 hours away from us. We purchased our first beachfront condo in May of 2009 and used a large rental company in the Orange Beach area to rent it for us. We weren't satisfied with their performance, so we began managing the condo ourselves. After much success with that one, we purchased a second beachfront rental a few years later. With rentals continually increasing and many happy guests, we decided to start our own property management business. My husband and I both had full-time jobs and three children, but we took real estate classes in the evenings, got our licenses, became Keller Williams agents, and then began Ocean South Properties. Currently, we manage 40 beachfront properties in Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, and Ft. Morgan, Alabama.
What is your background?
I have a marketing degree from LSU, and my husband has a degree in electrical engineering from LSU and an MBA from the University of West Florida.
What did you do before managing properties?
For over 20 years, I worked in Advertising Sales for newspapers in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, Austin, Texas, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Are you from that geographical area, or did you move there later?
We still live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. However, we have a home in Orange Beach, Alabama, and make bi-monthly visits there to check on condos, replenish our supply room, and meet with our two employees (maintenance and customer service rep). Many are surprised by this, but we have a very successful business even though we manage it from another state! It can be done with the help of OwnerRez.
Is there something that drew you to that area?
We love the white sand beaches, boat life, and laid-back atmosphere of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama. It is a beautiful vacation area and a great place to raise a family!
What do you love the most about the VR business?
I love the property owners who have entrusted their condos/homes to our care. They've become family to us and allow us to do whatever needs to be done to make their condos nicer and more appealing to guests. I also LOVE helping decorate/stage these condos. I love a good Before & After! I also love that our oldest son, Ben, is now part of the business. He handles the day-to-day...answering quotes, booking reservations, etc. He loves creating triggers in OwnerRez!
What do you dislike the most about it?
After so many years of answering phones morning, noon, and night, I couldn't do it anymore. So, I hired a local customer service rep to answer phones and stay in touch with our guests. She is also a runner and helps me with decorating projects.
How do you use OwnerRez to manage your business?
We use most, if not all, of OwnerRez's features to manage our reservations, from quotes to bookings to closing out each month. We use OR to integrate with Vrbo and Lynnbrook credit card processing. We love the automatic triggers and SMS feature to keep in contact with guests from their initial booking to check-out.
What is the most useful feature OwnerRez offers?
Our website is managed through OwnerRez, and we absolutely love it! Our website is expertly managed through the incredible platform OwnerRez, and we couldn’t be happier! The ease of use and powerful features have truly transformed our online presence.
It’s amazing to see how Melissa and her family have turned Ocean South Properties into a thriving business, managing 40 properties while balancing family and full-time careers. Wishing them continued success as they bring their passion for exceptional guest experiences and property management to the beautiful Alabama Gulf Coast!
