I would then like to go and meet with those families as an investor interested in purchasing their property and find out if that is a solution for them.

After losing thousands of dollars on one house after the appliances disappeared, the solution I found was using  mobile alarm systems that I can move from flip to flip.

@Justin C.I've only used the SW version which is Builder's Solution.

Any one doing multiple vacation rentals and has found a effective solution in dealing with multiple properties and multiple rental websites?

If the building/unit is up to the calibre of our rentals, I will tell the applicant about it and ask if they wish to be introduced.I see our business as more of a housing solutions provider and not simply a landlord ... if you search on BP you will find @Al Williamson, myself and others having discussion on ways to add value to our clients (tenants) and increase revenue and good will in the process.Remember, referrals work in both directions once someone starts.  

@Jacques Wurms I know its been some time but I am curious if you were able to work out a solution on the meter issue.

Most sites that sale any web building solutions have analylitics built in (such as real time vistor notifications and habits), but you may need to teach yourself or hire someone to take advantage of them.A website is not the end all, and personally, being a bit of a techie, I'd say as Baby Boomers exit the entrepreneurial world in favor of retirement and and the tech generation grows up, moblie apps services, and on demand services will become more critical, and Social Media will be used even more as a trust gaging platform...

I would imagine that the cheapest solution would be to demo the whole egress exit and build a new staircase.Does anyone have any suggestions on other ways this could be done?

Although, certain days/weeks, it's been a bit too much and I know it's not sustainable. 

At least as it relates to investors from high priced markets looking out in the mid west rust belt ETC. the number these days for sustainable rental homes in my mind is 0.07  to 1.25  that gets you in the sweet spot of a tenant class that you can be successful with.Caveat  there are always little mid western or mountain towns or coal towns in Pa and other areas were there is 2% that are not quite as dangerous but those are the provenance of locals not something most out of state investors could find and or own or manage..