I rent the Tahoe home to friends and family but don’t stress about cash flow from it; I bought it as a getaway for my family and any extra money is icing.

Appreciation is icing on your investment cake but IT MATTERS!

However, for most beginners (or average people), I think tax advantages should be seen as icing on the cake, not the primary reason to invest. 

I do not buy in bulk, but do wait for sales. 6 months ago I replaced the appliances in a unit and bought all Whirlpool Stainless.I paid about:$500 Fridge w/ ice maker$500 Oven/Range $200 Microwave$300 DishwasherSo, $1500 total.Recently for Labor Day I purchased the same appliances and paid:$550 Fridge$600 Oven/Range$220 Microwave$300 DishwasherSo $1670 total.

I don't want to do/say anything to negate the notice period or restart the clock so to speak.If it's not an issue, any advice on how to introduce myself and break the ice? 

If I hadn't, then I never would have need to have asked any questions in this post because everything would still be peaches and cream for this unit.

The Honeywell thermostats are a good idea but resourceful tenants put a wet washcloth filled with ice cubes on them, to force the heat up.

If the tenant freezes it up, they have to wait for the ice to thaw around the fins.

And its not really the snow that causes problems its the water from the snow melting and ice from that snow melt then re-freezing that is the biggest issue. 

However, if you are relying on appreciation and loan pay-down to make the deal "work," then it is probably a deal worth passing on.Most people would tell you that you should base your decision on cash flow only, and appreciation and loan pay down (especially appreciation) are icing on the cake.