This would be for a weekly retainer – someone who would keep an eye on the property, respond to maintenance requests, and coordinate with other contractors.

I assume there are things I should be on the eye out for that may not be something I would look for here in CA. 

Plus your minimum payments start immediately on any of the lines that you use.Not going to call this a ripoff because I went in with eyes wide open and if you need the funds for a deal you just chalk it up to the cost of doing business.

Are there better resources that I can give him to help open his eyes and see that he can do this without them? 

There can be a lot more to it than meets the eye.

Go in with your eyes open.

Of course, on factual matters, the agent can not misrepresent but on subjective matters, they are looking at things through the seller's eye's. 

Good job though keeping an eye on the usage...you will notice if and when those toilets start running!! 

I would fix the hole with a Fernco and keep an eye on it. 

Most of them due to the appraisal and the broker not wanting to put forward any effort as he was certain this would not get cleared and was wasting his time (I saw it with my own eyes in an email, to the lender from the broker "I fully expect this not to work out")Needless to say closing is set for next Wednesday and assuming survey gets done we should be good to go!