Half of the PM's down here can't read contracts, don't know how to inspect a property for damage, etc. - they just use whatever contractor is giving them the most free stuff at the time.  

That one is a big deal for rebuilding.I've also heard of property tax reductions for properties significantly damaged during the storm.Depending on the property and what you want to do, the hurricanes affected property tax, insurance, and permitting in a lot of ways.

Follow the step for the deposit-even if it is to send a registered letter to their last known address stating that the deposit was used for outstanding rent and whatever damages or cleaning was needed (itemize it). 

They do damage to your ranking!

Chris, good point, I guess that kind of damage could happen to anything I own. 

It generally isn't worth the brain damage of experimenting though....especially if you want to move to a new home that you will own inside of the typical lender's seasoning period.

(NY counties are generally quite expensive)Do you have home owners insurance to cover fire or other damage?

Sixteen homes to inspect- roofs, hot water tanks, soft floors, siding damage, decks, porches, furnaces. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

In your example, $250 in utility bills is much cheaper than $2500 to fix frozen-pipe damages!