Here is a quick read that might help you gauge what stage you are in.  

This will build and compound on itself and take earning pressure off of you for the rest of your life.

I will continue to gauge their performance to see if I want to continue working with them in the future.  

I countered that I be in-charge of the order $3k would be used to fix the issues I found priority and be responsible for any other costs for the list of issues discussed, but I still expected the protection from the clause that would allow me to walk away from the deal if the house was found to be uninhabitable (AC Failure/Termite Infestation/Mold/Low Water Pressure).

But  new investors, start by  saving yourself 20K from some high pressure weekend  RE  seminar and order it. 

"Rents are a great gauge to whether an area has too many apartments.

I also try to gauge how many properties in each of my markets will default in the next downturn.

No pressure on them and also indirectly lets them know of our need.

I don't see myself doing this full time as I am the breadwinner at home and the full time job" That's a lot of pressure, maybe your spouse could start with something part time and look at picking up some of the insurance...This is the way many of us started: Full time job and part time in Real Estate.Doesn't your Broker franchise have some support to get you up to speed?

Most people who ask won't make that extra effort.Here are just a few examples of issues I come across:1) Tenants asking how many properties you own (invasion of privacy and gauging finances).