Finally, someone responded on the 4th day stating they could not cancel it so I decided to wait for it rather than order a different one. 15 days later, they send me an email letting me know to expect the refund for that bedframe.

Do not give them anything until they have 100% moved out and left property in condition you expected it to be in if you have not done so already I would inspect the unit now as well

A well written management contract should clearly spell out what is expected of both the PMC and the owner, to PROTECT both and avoid misunderstandings.

A few months go by and unbeknownst to me the escrow account had now drawn negative which triggers the lender to no longer apply what’s considered a “partial” payment to them, given that I’m now paying less that what’s due given the escrow increase required but not relayed to me even though I expected it at some point.Last month I’m on Zillow looking at the value of my properties.

Fannie Mae will allow you to transfer the deed to an LLC if you decide to try to go the conventional route, but the loan would still be in your names and you'll need to pay a title company a second time post-closing to do this  for you. 3) I can't speak for the area so no comment there4) If you're self managing, make sure you find vendors you can trust in the area since you won't be able to easily verify if an HVAC guy, plumber, etc. is trying to rip you off and tell you to buy something you don't actually need. 5) Make sure you have clear alignment of goals and a clear operating agreement that spells out what to do if those goals start to not align in the future since you'll be jointly obligated to these properties. 

Trustin your PM partner is important and they will follow your lead, so don't expect them to provide you with your business plan. 

@Dwight HenningRecommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

Was fortunate enough to lease for higher than expected rental rates.

Clear communication on expectations is key—I'd definitely push them to split that $250 cost at the very least! 

DC we will see legislation introduced in the pretty soon future.