I think @Rod Witmond raised the core source to tension in most owner - property manager relationships - their interests are not aligned.As we grow our portfolio, we are under no illusions of being able to continue to manage it on our own - I have a young son and the whole purpose of the move into real estate was to spend more time with him - and have been looking for a property manager.Most of the ones we've interviewed, in addition to a monthly stipend, make their money on turn (lease-up fees) and repairs (mark-up on labour and materials).  

I wouldn't rent or show the unit until this is resolved, to much tension.

So when there were times of financial tension or other things tenants wanted me to cut them some slack for, the tenants would know who they were dealing with and how I operated (same with them and all their neighbors), and they ultimately understand so that we can continue working together.

Hopefully some knowledgeable people jump in.A lot of the time, it seems like the ridiculous or trivial repair requests will often turn into a back and forth argument, creating tension. 

in regards to the tension between intrinsic value and hard numbers, and will probably revisit it when I'm ready to buy.

Avoid high tension power lines, main busy streets, flying lead, homeless people, pawn shop neighborhoods, train tracks, garbage dumps, factories, airport flight paths, sink holes, mud slides, beef rendering plants, streets with broken windows and broken street lights, drug dealers and girls that work the streets.Why do you ask?  

Acknowledge the negative emotion or any tension in the situation - it diffuses it.

Also, if you have the little switch toggle type drain, sometimes the tension can be off and they can partially activate, slowing the drain flow. 

That's the end of it.As soon as you make it about specific things, you're headed for trouble, and it'll often cause tension.

This is not without causing tension with tenants in the process, as we are having to have multiple conversations about what happened to the funds.