Once I was faced with this minimum balance staring me in the face through the nickname I had given it, $1500 became the new $0.00 in my account. 

That you wisely build in the costs for replacement linens and towels (also offer black face towels), possibly don't use high-end top-down shades in the Bunk Room (although those black out shades match all the shades in the rest of the house and it's a high-end property), chalk can be brushed, semi-gloss on walls for easier clean-up... and yes, there are clear check-out directions to run the dishwasher provided via an online guest book, a physical guest book, and an email I send regarding check-out the day before they check-out.

Haven't seen your name before so It's always good to meet fresh faces.

It's huge and it wipes out my cash flow to the point where I am barely CF positive.Note: I ended up not accounting for siding costs since the siding is newish and most likely I will have sold the property or have retired by the time it needs updating.

Hello Patricia, it sounds like you’re facing a challenging situation, and you’re exploring creative solutions to keep the property without incurring unsustainable expenses.

I live in CT so most things within an hour of me are 250 at the bare minimum.

That would lead to people who always go with the cheap getting the bare minimum home inspection, title work, etc. 

There are online communities and local groups where you might find like-minded people facing similar challenges.Exploring additional income streams that align with your skills and interests could also be beneficial.

Have soap and towel, face masks , you dont know how the tenant lives . 

If you do have a current property manager, meet face to face with them and find out the details of how they manage the properties with an eye toward improvement.As has already been alluded to, you should think about what happens when one or both of your parents pass.