As you progress, maintaining a clear line of communication with your team, especially your property manager, will allow you to stay ahead of maintenance issues and tenant needs, keeping your operations smooth and your tenants happy.If you haven't done so already, consider outlining your goals and investment criteria with a property manager early on.

When your interviewing companies I'd suggest to ask about maintenance, and even talk with leasing agent as well. 

* Do you upcharge on maintenance?

Beyond the Monthly Management, Placement & Maintenance fees, all other fees in our contract are IF EVENT -> THEN fees.

The study could also identify the opportunity to capture additional benefits such as dispositions, and repair and maintenance expenditures.

Also, are you trying to avoid one with an ice maker--potential here for additional maintenance if any issues arise.I've had Whirlpool, Samsung, Frigidaire in properties without any issues.Make sure you're aware of what the manufacturer warranty covers things such as parts, labor, and compressor.  

@Kris Lou Be careful with agents as 95%+ of them really only know how to handle owner-occupied transactions.We don't do biz in Indianapolis, so this is unbiased info we hope you find useful:Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

The fact that you think the tenant is a pain has nothing to do with how you maintain the property, you could be creating legal and maintenance problems for yourself by not taking action. 

The important things to consider about HOA fees is that they usually include some utilities: Water/Sewer, Trash, sometimes shared amenities like gym, clubhouse, pool, and they are saving you the time and headache for property maintenance: lawn care, tree timing, roof, siding, etc.

Common fees will include a set-up fee, a leasing fee for each turnover or a lease renewal fee, marking up maintenance, retaining late fees, and more.