Not getting proper permits and following the rules doesn’t benefit anyone, it just makes it messy and can be confrontational.  

In other words the issues you're going to confront are going to be distinct from someone who's been doing this for 10 years, or someone who's a totally different market or something else.To me your concern is one of like do I even just get started.

I am curious @Jonathan Weinberger what Own It Detroit's response was when confronted with these issues and the termination of services? 

The autistic child apparently is the one creating the most noise.A few days later, the noise persisted and the upstairs tenant came down and knocked on her door at 1:00 in the morning to confront her on the noise.

Because I have evidence that they did not do the work they claimed I felt I had no choice but to stand up for myself and then confront them.

It's not confrontation to communicate your expectations and to detail frustration points of items you feel have been short of expectations, that is called effective communication, sharing, actionable information, guidance, leadership. 

They will knowingly make up illegal things knowing that they can get away with it for quite a while before confronted about it.

It doesn't have to be a big confrontation... it doesn't have to be some dramatic talk...

I recently got back to town and confronted them with all the problems I have with their management, and I'm trying to decide what to do next.