As the pool equipment is an optional coverage under this contract, I suppose their assertion is valid.I probably wouldn't have purchased the pool coverage if I had know about that.

It’s the best way to learn what property management entails and more importantly it will also help you know the property better.

Sometimes it might entail getting up very early or going to bed late to get that little extra done.  

For full and complete disclosure/transparency, I do work for Avail, so I'm limited in what I can say here as I don't want to be seen as self-promoting via the thread; having said that, I did want to provide information on what our screening entails - you can request that an app includes credit score, credit history, eviction history, nationwide criminal background check, and nationwide sex-offender check; this is in addition to the basics that are requested of the renter profile (ie. income - 2 most recent paystubs / proof of employment, a bit about their employment history, and reference checks from their prior landlord).

Walking home depot can give you a good idea of costs but if you're new then you won't know all that a rehab entails until you get a few bids and walk houses. 

I am quite familiar with what being a landlord entails, but now I want to build wealth with the equity I already have.

This entails building personal / working relationships with people successful in the field.

If this is a single family home, and you simply identify the property address in the Agreement, without excluding it, you may have a problem trying to assert your position.

But, I do spend tens of thousands of dollars per year on some very good ones who have given me this advice.That said, if you can substantiate your assertions, and it turns out that I've *literally* spent millions of dollars in taxes that I otherwise could have avoided, I guess I'll have to go fire my tax advisors. 

I do understand your point that it's hard to know where to start but I stand by my assertion that starting with someone else's is a very bad idea.