I made a mistake of working a side deal to cover what sec8 wouldn't.  

They will also make you make the biggest mistake of your life.

@James LuctamarIn our experience, the #1 mistake owners make when selecting a Property Management Company (PMC) is ASSUMING instead of CONFIRMING. our experience, the #1 mistake owners make when selecting a Property Management Company (PMC) is ASSUMING instead of CONFIRMING.

I chose to start with SFH just because I felt it won't be overwhelming and with it, any mistakes I make won't be that fatal.I am based in MA and looking to invest in MA and neighboring states as NH, RIOne other question I have is - what does it mean to get my finances tied up and ready to go?

Besides I'd rather learn from somebody else's newbie mistakes and speed up the process.

Mistakes there can turn out to be very expensive and impact your property and neighboring properties.

Literally every week I get multiple inquiries on the size of our pool as the last time they made the mistake of booking a place with a such a small pool. 

I will add that this is a process that has many rules that are required to be followed and there are serious financial penalties if you make a mistake. do your research and learn all you can and/or find a custodian who provides education as well as an ERISA attorney who can advise you. 

The horror stories are many but it's best to allow someone to get spanked financially because they learn better from their mistakes than from the mistakes of others. 

To proceed without assistance in this matter would be a huge mistake.