How do You Keep Property Managers from Screwing Up Everything?

[Manco Snead]

Greetings,

I'm buying my first out-of-state property (Iowa) and hiring a property management company to run it. I've dealt with a property management company for my local property and their work ranged from ok to semi disastrous. So, I don't have high expectations with the current company (KMB) I'm hiring, but do need a manager and management options were for some reason very limited around Iowa City. I'm mostly banking on hope and luck that they will be at least ok. Does anyone have thoughts on how to make property management companies functional for us owners? Any thoughts inside or outside the box much appreciated.

Thanks.