Here's some motivation for you; "I'm out pounding the concrete with a fractured neck doing my Due Diligence."

It was a nice house but needed updating and repairs and it was in an undesirable area.

The constant drumbeat against landlords in CA has made it a really undesirable place to own over the long term (which is why I stopped buying rentals here a few years ago and have been a net seller). 

your insurance company will also be able to support you with a letter that no dogs > 30 pounds are allowed in the park.  

We all like to save money when we can, but you can also find yourself prey to being penny wise, pound foolish.

Something that your training classes and broker should have pounded into your head is that there is no such thing as a "standard commission", nor should you ever utter those words. 

It smooths out your cashflows, keeps you from falling into the common BP PM trap of being penny-wise and pound foolish, and most likely will end up saving you time/headaches.

Maybe losing 50 pounds is easier then losing 5 pounds?

The individuals from these firms that speak to the tenants do not threaten, however their size (6'5" or more) and weight (300 pounds plus), facial scars, tatoos and overall persona convince all but the extremely stupid that leaving is a good idea.

Broken furniture, a 1998 32-inch TV that weighs 317 pounds, hangers, some old eggs and an empty pizza box in the fridge, nothing cleaned, etc.