--reach out and thank them upon getting the booking and ask if they have any questions--send a "Welcome" email or automated message during the week prior to arrival--reach out the day after arrival to ask how everything was the first night and ask if there is anything that the property needs--reach out at the end of the stay (that morning or within 24 hours) and ask how everything was, anything to improve, anything to add to the house and then offer an incentive for returning guests.My 2 cents,Mike Absolutely stay in your place as Mike said.You will see things the cleaners will never let you know about.We stayed in our PF will putting up the Christmas decorations and found a cracked plastic shelf in the fridge. 

I spend a total of probably 5 hours a week dealing with tenants and property management related duties.

Instead of wasting 20 hours a week on your phone or TV, work a part-time job to accelerate paying down the debt and saving. 

Called the agent that day and drove 4 hours that week.

We had to make emergency decisions multiple times a day for weeks to protect the properties and the tenants.

I'm thinking I'll try out stressa and baselane for a week together and pick one.

In fact, someone just called me last week and had a non-performing rental package that they purchased in the same fashion and the prices they bought at, considering the actual condition and historical performance of the properties was too high in my opinion. 

You'd be surprised at how the simple things, like answering an email within 24-48 hours versus two weeks (or never!)

Or I'm missing something - followed threads about the conversation from different folk, though.I wanted to get to visit Niagara Falls - Canada side for the week of Christmas to New Year and been looking at the hotels.

I had 2 weeks to pack my stuff and leave the rest behind.