Naturally you need to charge them for any damage to incldue smoke damange 

Selfishly, being able to respond fast, mitigates damage to the property (frozen pipes, mold!)

Too bad you can't buy something owner-occupied, put 5% down with the best interest rate, live in it for 12 months (and fix it up), rent it out and repeat the cycle.Here's some other info you might find useful:----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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?

Primarily desert washes, but also near a creek....So I would go knock on doors and ask neighbors when it has flooded and what they think about the area......maybe call the County water board and ask then what has happened there in the past.

It covers internet, water, trash, cable, and exterior (roof, siding, etc.).

My recollection is (and insurance experts on BP can correct me if my memory is wrong), but most insurers will only pay "replacement cost"  policy limits, if you actually replace the damaged property.

Late payments, property damage, and evictions are avoidable when you have a PM who knows how to find reliable renters.I encourage you to seek out a property management company that emphasizes tenant screening and uses modern tools for verification.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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?

@Daniel GrantzRecommend 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?

Sellers may struggle to mentally shift from "owner" to "tenant," which can create challenges with boundaries and property care.Security Deposit:If you’re doing a temporary leaseback, be sure to collect a substantial security deposit to cover potential damages and ensure they vacate on time.