. - 1.28 gallon toilets, eco-friendly faucets, eco-friendly shower heads, etc.) as a way of helping this rental property consume significantly less water (enough to save me a few hundred bucks each year...

this all works in theory until the folks you sell to stop paying and squat..

I can tell you a bathroom let's say that is getting an overhaul: new toilet, new vanity, new tub, new tile you are looking at 8 - 10k. 

squatting is a stain on our industry..

I think when you hire a PM you have 3 choices 1)  A very small local provider (<15 units) and they tend to me 1-2 person operations, they are the one unclogging toilets, answering guests, etc and it is tough to do everything, so things lack. 2) A large/nationwide provider where you are only a number and they usually lack local resources 3) A mid size local provider who have resources and you are not just a number.Through effective revenue management with a revenue manager, and being listed on 15+ sites including Marriott Homes & Villas, JetBlue and Allegiant Airlines, Hyatt and Amex Travel (coming soon) we are bringing in more revenue than most can self managing, offsetting our fee.One of the top questions I tell people to ask their manager is the fees, who keeps them? 

It's allowed me to do some of my own work like changing toilets and fixing leaking ceilings, but even if I don't want to do a job personally hopefully I'll have enough knowledge to not let a contractor over charge me, or recommend something I don't need.You'll also meet local contractors, and hopefully investors.They may offer an employee discount too.

My vacations were "staycations" where I spent a week ripping up rotted floorboards or tearing out toilets and tubs.

Toilet leaks, some stuff like that.

Before you use the toilet pull down your Huggies Big Boy Diaper.

However, when I went to visit the property, it appears there is someone squatting on the land (perhaps the original owner who lost it to back taxes, who knows).