Client ExpectationsClients often have unrealistic expectations, leading to frustration when things don’t go as planned.Solution: Set realistic expectations from the beginning.

If you are too busy to go see a whole bunch of properties in person, meet PMs, and help with getting your first property stabilized... you may want to wait until you have more time.Not trying to be negative, just realistic. 

Unpopular maybe, but for sure realistic and prudent.

Be realistic.  

They hire them and can fire them, it's not realistic to think there is no pressure on them.

Most times you can be pretty safe estimating an hour for this, but if your property is in a rural area or a heavily congested urban area with slow-moving traffic, you may need to be realistic about it taking longer.BTW: you should be realistic about a Service Call fee even for little jobs.

Realistically at this price point, its hard to find a good agent.

I was hoping you would say about $100 but $250 is more realistic.

that is a perfectly fine strategy - it's just very difficult to do at a distance.as others have said, house hacking if done right shouldn't close off other strategies.hope this helps - trying to be realistic not discouraging.

No way is this a scheme to keep EM for the seller..Anytime I have had EMD disputes it usually gets solved with a 50 50 split since I know what will happen.. what happens is exactly as you describe.. money is to small to realistically hire an attorney to collect..