About us
A small Asheville property management firm focused on doing it well
Eleanor Whitfield and Caleb Hartman founded Hearth & Hollow in 2016 after a decade between them at larger property firms in Charlotte and Atlanta.
We saw the same pattern on every deal: prospective tenants scheduling showings without being told the credit minimum, the pet rules, or — worst of all — the actual move-in costs, only to be hit with the bad news at signing. Or owners getting back unit photos two months after the last move-out, charged a vendor markup neither side could itemize.
Hearth & Hollow exists to fix both. Every home we list shows the actual policy set — the credit floor, the pet rules, any house-specific terms — before anyone reaches out. Our renewal rate is 92% because we treat residents as people choosing to live somewhere, not numbers on a rent roll.
We stay deliberately small: fifty homes across five neighborhoods we know house-by-house. We turn down management contracts that would pull us outside that geography or stretch the team thin.
50
Homes managed
5
Neighborhoods
92%
Renewal rate
18 days
Avg time to lease
Principles
What we believe
I.
Requirements upfront
We disclose the credit minimum, income multiple, pet policy, and any house rules on every listing. If you won't qualify, you find out before you drive across town.
II.
Long renewals beat high turnover
A resident who renews twice is worth more than three new leases at this price tier. We price honestly to market and respond fast on maintenance.
III.
House-by-house knowledge
We know which Montford bungalows have working chimneys, which West Asheville foursquares need their crawlspace dehumidified, and which Biltmore Forest homes have failing septic fields. We tell you before you tour.
IV.
Honest pricing
Listed rent is what you pay. No "amenity fees" or "key deposits" tacked on at signing. We charge a $50 application fee and nothing else from screening.
V.
Pet-friendly where possible
About 80% of our homes accept pets within house rules. We negotiate the lowest pet fee the owner allows and post the real number on the listing.
VI.
After-hours coverage
A frozen pipe at 2am does not wait for business hours. Our 24/7 line is answered by a real person who can dispatch our vetted local trades.
People
The team
Three full-timers and standing partnerships with Reems Creek Plumbing, Foothills Electric, and Blue Ridge HVAC for trades work.
Eleanor Whitfield
Co-founder, Operations
Berkeley
Caleb Hartman
Co-founder, Owner Services
Oakland
Sarah Beaumont
Head of Leasing
San Francisco
Diego Salazar
Maintenance
Albany
Pearl Akerman
Owner Relations
Mill Valley
Rohan Mehta
Leasing
Oakland
“
Five years in the same Kenilworth craftsman. Hearth & Hollow took over three years ago and the house has actually gotten better — they replaced the water heater before it failed, repointed the chimney, and the front porch is finally level again.
Get in touch
Renters, residents, owners.
Whatever path you're on, we will route you to the right person within six business hours.