I’m thinking my split on a 20% fee of owner’s STR rental income would be 75% + a finder’s fee for new clients of $1000 or 1% of first year’s 20% rental fee (whichever is greater) + 90-100% of listing setup fee of $1500 + referral fees on rental properties that go to list.

The mom & pop shop we bought gave out their cell phones and were available 24/7/365.

You can set it up so you will get a cell phone alert when the camera senses motion. 

I'm with eXp and they give you 3 free "personal deals" per year, meaning you can keep 100% of the commission (instead of 70%) on whichever transactions you choose. 

Whichever utilities you can turn off that he can't turn back on I would. 

Adding to @Bruce Woodruff: I found this on the Illinois Government website: "If your change decreases the tax due to Illinois and you want a refund, you must file an amended return (claim for overpayment) within three years after the extended due date, three years after the date your original return was filed, or one year after the date your Illinois tax was paid, whichever is latest."

As for paying with certified check, in most counties you only need to pay a deposit; the sheriff should have rules that set the amount of the deposit to be a percentage of the winning bid or a fixed minimum amount, whichever is greater.You determine your maximum bid, and then get checks sufficient to pay that deposit amount based on your maximum bid.

I would suggest you consider how easily you'll be able to assemble a team to work in whichever city you choose.

Urine, smoke (whichever type) and any other organic compound has to outgas no matter what.

The few who don't see their vacation rentals muddle through mediocre revenues for six months, a year, before they reshoot with a professional and with the house looking pristine and they immediately see their returns improve.Could you put up okay cell-phone photos as an interim solution?