Using a collection agency likely will only cover part of your losses, but sometimes it is the only means to protect yourself and your investment from a difficult former tenant who isn’t owning up to their end of things.Getting the right tenant in your property, as well as handling difficult tenants, is at or near the top of the list of reasons why property owners should consider working with a trusted and experienced property management company.

ESA are protected.

What are the things I should do now at my property to protect it and resume with another contractor?

I am not from Florida and I know that each state has it's own set of rules and laws when it comes to tenant rights/protection.

Also find a realtor that is familiar with investors, like really familiar, not just someone who "can open doors" but someone who can consult with you and protect you during the buying process of an investment property.  

If a Football player thinks about "Feeling" he's not going to do very well--because it HURTS to play football (and it hurts to train for it).A Football player focuses on a goal. 10 yards at a time, sometimes 1 yard at a time without FEELING, just doing to get to the goal.If you can do that--it will be easier.There is no law that says you have to "Feel" anything.Brock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

You should be familiar with Virginia’s Source of Income protection law.

A local title company can’t afford to have their name out there as not protecting customers wiresReal estate companies can’t do business with a title company who does something like this either 

 @Douglas Spence I would like to grow my passive income, also I’d always like to own real state. currently, I know nothing and would like to get started ASAP,  the LLC question is for asset protection.

We have a 12 page management contract that we've added our real experiences to over the years, with the intent of protecting both us AND the landlord.