I've spent this whole winter in Oahu and absolutely love the island!

@Eric Winters - To me, that's really going to depend on what you need?

HUD pays companies to winterize  vacant homes and I have not gotten 1 yet that was properly done.

But for trash, snow removal during winter, keeping the hallways clean, etc, we pay $250-300/month to a local guy.

Thats a good point, the area I'm looking into has a harsh winter and I wasn't sure how rehabbing + placing a tenant would take. 3.

Secondly, he went on to mention it cost him $300 to heat 2 rooms for one month over this winter, his concern was the insulation.

@Michael SwanYes...we talked on the phone last year...you gave me some great tips on how to find a PM and an agent as well as some great advice on how things are in the Winter Months compared to the rest of the country....you covered a few other things as well and I took copiuos notes during our 15-20 minute conversation. 

Started to get one property repaired before winter, but it will be finished this spring.

btw @Patrick Philip Don't know your goal/range, but I'm waiting for a 2-3 ac lakefront lot on Orange Ave in Winter Springs to list this spring/summer.

The concrete steps at my rental property have had a bad winter.