Here is an associated review I wrote for them for reference to my experience:City Waterproofing is the definition of a family-run business that you can trust.

@Patrick HallIf you choose an experienced provider to work with, they should be able to furnish a lot of general information similar to what you're getting in these forums.

You should manage your first property to get use to what  has to be dealt with and when you get tired of doing that, hire an experienced property management company to do that for you and make sure they understand your goals.Don't only track yourself but see what the others are doing in your area to keep their occupancy up.   

I am not an experienced investor, and just wading in  but do now have two vacation rental properties that I am starting with and considering similar issues.

Another great way to speed up that process is to do deals with other experienced investors.

@David MoreheadBooks: Due Diligence Handbook (super important and often missed element of the underwriting process)The Real Estate Game: The Intelligent Guide To Decisionmaking And Investment (solid overview by an experienced operator)How to Create Lifetime Cash Flow Through Multifamily Properties (free, solid book)Articles:How to Avoid the Most Common Commercial Due Diligence MistakesDeal Screening Checklist for Passive Multifamily InvestorSpend time poking around the Internet + networking with local multifamily investors to understand how to underwrite and what assumptions to use. 

I told them that we never experienced hearing voices or items moving for the 5 years that we lived that house.

Maybe find and wholesale a deal, maybe partner up with an experienced investor or broker, or maybe learn how to 'find the deals'.Putting together syndications is really not so difficult; putting together SUCCESSFUL syndications is another story. 

Investing with experienced sponsors helps the average investor benefit from the Sponsor's time, effort and expertise.

Review their management agreement.