@Chad Keilen Not entirely sure how to check they're legitimate, but taking a look at their website would be a good start.

@Myles Hendricks if you plan to treat it as a legitimate business, invest a few hundred dollars in your own purchase & sale agreement and assignment contract, written by a licensed attorney in your state.

There is no dispute that these charges are legitimate.

All of that is exactly what I have been seeing, so I am glad I'm not crazy.I wonder how extensive the role has to be to be considered legitimate?

There is almost never a legitimate reason for someone to prepay rent.

That's likely what's happening here to you, or they have a legitimate concern with these exposures due to losses they've paid out in your area over the past few years.The good new is that there are many carriers/agents that would love to quote/earn your business and keep it for years to come. 

Having legitimate hardwoods that look nice could potentially fetch a little more in rent for the time being.

I think it's a legitimate question and, in fact, it is something we take into consideration when investing.

Your job is to supply a safe place to live and address any legitimate problems/issue that arise. 

I am usually firmly against ESAs because of all the fraud associated with the industry, the fake Doctors, Etc....Also the fact that the government is essentially taking control of private property is a huge deal-breaker for me.But - this sounds like a legitimate deal from what you have said....probably best to just go along since she's a great tenant.