Maybe they meditate or pray or spent some quiet time - in a forest, by a lake, or some other place out in nature - trying to find and listen to an inner voice, etc.That's all fine - but don't spend a lot of time on it.  

Special assessments or HOA or city related ordinancesAlso, if you did the math, and based on my personal observation, land lording as a means to financial freedom is very long and tedious unless you have some other form of income to break the cap rate on the property, or have some really innovative way to acquire property (but this often in itself needs some level of capital).If you have very little capital, I would save the money (i am generally risk averse), and use sweat equity, like being a realtor or wholesaler to build the funds to invest, then combine your knowledge with things like options trading is where it all comes together and makes sense. 

He did leave a voice mail saying the "check is in the mail."

He's also supposed to drive by monthly and inspect inside every 6 months.For-rent phone calls come to a google voice number advising of unit currently for rent, instructions for how to obtain an application online,  and to contact maintenance guy to schedule showing.  

There were some pretty serious concerns voiced about that strategy.One is that if you wrap the existing mortgage and sell with owner financing, you better make dang sure that the balance you owe on the original mortgage is always below what your end buyer owes. 

Rather, I record a voice memo as I walk through the property.

Some have been in business for decades with second generation owners, some are newer with only a few years in the business.Without fail, the vast majority of my calls (70% plus) go straight to a voice message/voice mail system.

If I liked them and they pay on time and I want to keep things going smoothly, then I'd simply voice your concerns, mention the poo in the yard issue and leave it at that.

What creative or innovative ways have you seen RE businesses make their mark on their respective communities? 

If his deployment date is unknown, that is a tougher call as you don't want him moving out in Nov and having to find a tenant at that time of year.