The first thing I would do is document everything while it's fresh: weather conditions, time, location, contact info, agreement in place with contractor, video of incident if available, time you received notice, copy of the tenant's incident/accident report, etc.  

To start, I'd like to learn how to get started with rental properties fresh out of college when I graduate in May.

Then you would look for a different (cheaper) freelancer to keep the content updated and fresh. 

@Brandon Henry so I take it from your post the you each own 1/2 of a duplex so neither party can execute the plan without the other.I don't do basement dig outs but have investigated it a couple of different times for different situations.

That will give me some more time to investigate this further and not rush in to it.Thank you again,Jim

I have lot of domain knowledge to catch up on, and still need to investigate whether it is best one under an LLC, whether the lender would agree to lend it with this model, etc.

Then imagine if upon moving in, the tenants put on a fresh coat of paint and upgraded the lighting and flooring.  

When you replace a water heater the drain pipe, the flue and the fresh air intake might have to be modified for the new tank.

Find out the numbers and investigate similar homes on Zillow etc.  

Do not give the clerk your address they can flag it as a possible site for investigation.