Sellers or JV partners may value a hands-off partner who can handle rehabs.Start with a Strategy: Whether it's BRRRR (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) or simply flipping properties to build capital, define a clear path for your first few deals that aligns with your long-term development goals. 

As far as property management goes, I figured it might be best (in my particular situation) to start with a property manager since I will be travelling for work for most of next year and it would be better to have someone local to handle things for me?  

There's really not a cost-effective solution for utility monitoring for SFR, other than Nest.WhatsApp for business communications is lmited - how do you scale and hire someone to handle, while being able to track what they do?

How do fellow landlords handle this situation?

State's differ quite a bit not just with their laws but with how certain aspects of a sale are customarily handled.

Having the funds to handle evictions and turn units quickly is the key to stabilizing the property and protecting the investment.

What makes it tough in the beginning is your rental income is not established so you need to be able to handle the debt not using rental income. 

How do you guys handle appliances in single family homes?

I will educate myself better regarding laws so I can handle these matters effectively going forward.Quote from @Steve K.: Why would you need the tenants permission to send an inspector in?

It’s frustrating to hear you had to step in and handle the process yourself while still being charged a full fee.