If they do, you may have a chance under the scenario you're proposing - if they share your concern for it's condition (although that seems unlikely since they've been living with it the way it is for some time, it seems).If you own it, it's pretty lowbrow to expect a neighbor to invest in your property. 

I too live in Asheville, so Sapphire was closer than Cashiers and Highlands.

@Luis Cerwin as others have stated, Nov - Jan is the worst time of year to have a vacancy.Majority of tenants live paycheck-to-paycheck, so all their income goes to Holiday spending starting with Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then xmas, then NYE.January is also historically the worst month for rent payments due to Holiday Hangover Spending.

I realize people are trying to make a living, but anyone who cold calls me is the last person I'd use for any transaction (plus I have people for that!).  

Here’s why:Putting aside the actual physical danger of living in a fire prone area.

I bought a single family because I thought I could house hack in the same way as a duplex and in ways it certainly could have and did work but I didn't expect the relational aspects of having people living in a property I purchased.

Especially me as I do construction for a living. 

Businesses are “living” organisms with a life of their own, usually having deep meaning to their owners.  

I used to have a two bedroom apartment that I lived in and I would rent out the second room on Airbnb and one time I got a guest and she would leave her windows open.

@Jared FisherRecommend 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.