Mine was also out of state, in a town I’d never visited, and I relied heavily on videos from my agent.This sounds like a tough first deal, but it seems like you have some capital on the side, which will be useful as you face the upcoming challenges and learn from those expensive early mistakes.Regarding the subject of this post, “help me adjust my expectations,” I’d recommend assuming that; repairs will cost twice as much as you estimate, maintenance and vacancy rates will likely double from your initial projections, there’s a very real chance you may lose money on this deal.That said, there are ways to mitigate these risks by:- Keep asking questions here on BP and connecting with local experts- Stay proactive and communicative with your agent and property manager.And remember “Inspect what you expect.”Im not trying to discourage you but to help reset your expectations.

They handle everything—guest communication, pricing optimization, cleaning coordination, and maintenance—allowing you to focus on scaling or other priorities.While you pay a percentage of your revenue, the time and stress saved often outweigh the cost, especially with larger portfolios.

They've been avoidant, unwillingly to communicate with us/disclose their names in the beginning, and hid whenever they saw my mom.

This will cut down significantly on the issues you may have down the road with communication, paying rent on time, caring for property, etc. 

I highly encourage all my tenants to keep open communication with me about any struggles to pay rent, and generally they do.

However, it was not something that we planned on and I did not have any sort of communication prior to with that particular poster planning to highlight their services. good point Joe will have to see if I can see that kind of behavior..

Abandonment: If the GC stops working altogether for an extended period or doesn’t show up, then the project can be terminated.It’s best to communicate contract termination in a written way via certified email.

As for property management software, options like Hostaway or Lodgify can streamline bookings and communication.

Clear communication and legal safeguards are essential for a successful partnership.

Keep good track of communications and do not sink to his level if he gets nasty.