If you don't think any sort of fee is reasonable then continuing managing your unit may be in your best interest.Are you also keeping up to date with legislative changes in your area.

There's always so many personal items left behind in the home we have to sort through.

That wasn't true (and I had our exchange in writing) so thankfully that sorted itself out.

My son has worked remotely in IT for years, and none of his employers have had that sort of requirement you do. 

When I'm selecting an insurance provider, what sort of things should I be looking for?

I would have expected most of the growing pains to be sorted by now. 

Since I don't have a W2 anymore, I can't qualify for any sort of equity loan on my current home so I don't see my home's equity as a means to do anything unless I sell.  

Nobody likes them, but tbh when something like that happens I sort of smile!

The ARV supports the juice, but I think either my "perfect world" has to be compromised, or a HELOC of some sort- if I can. 

Study appraisal techniques and valuation methods.I like to say you need a crystal ball of sorts, need to look at the history of the note, payments made, see where and why the note was created, understand the borrowers position, look at their ability to pay and find out as much as you can about the borrower, getting in their head so to speak.