Also, there should be some national or state level registry that has verified the animal as such. 

@Petra M. go check out the NARPM.org site it is the National Association of Residential Property Managers.

This is also happening nationally (http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/24/why-the-supply-of-h...).I am an REO agent and it seems to be getting tougher and tougher to find good deals for my buyer investors.

My concern is that some emergency will happen or a maintenance request will be submitted that needs attention before I will return and I will not be able to handle it.As a result, I have called numerous South Bend handyman services but none seem to offer 24h service or answer calls.My question is, how did some of you smaller landlords handle this issue?

Look for a local business bank and not a National Big Box.

By their estimates, its 26% in Chicago and 33.7% nation wide. http://www.chicagobusiness.com/realestate/20170302/CRED0701/170309967/heres-why-that-buyer-may-not-plan-to-live-in-your-homeJen

First you get a property under contract with numerous escape clauses including the inspection results.

Nationally, direct mail has a low response rate, like around 1%.

Aside from a few minor downturns during national recessions, Austin homes for sale have steadily increased in value since the 1980s, proving that buying real estate in the area is a good investment.

Consider joining your local apartment association (usually by extension you will be joining your state and the national apartment association).