Make sure you retain adequate reserves to get through any foreseeable problem.

I have dealt with engineers, surveyors, licensed GCs, plumbers, & electricians, and am currently retaining a former City Sr.

You can even have them pull the lists for you to mail but I would suggest you retain control of that.

I have met several, and helped some retain their property due to the illegal actions of the unlicensed brokers.

I just wanted to add actually in the case mentioned above or in any case where a lender secures a property, with a Deed Of Trust(DOT), after there was a previous DOT, the new lender will make previously recorded DOTs sign a "Subordination Clause" in order to retain the position they are attempting to secure (1st, 2nd, etc.)

I am retaining all of this information.

This has the benefit of them retaining the asset for their contribution and keeps the lines of responsibility a little cleaner. 

The million dollar question is how much the upgrades are worth, because that is really hard to quantify, and think you are right that it helps get it rented and retain a tenant more than command significantly higher rent.Given your response, the next time I had a vacancy I would raise rent $25/mo.  

This would be "retained earnings" absent any distributions, but enough geeky corporate finance stuff.

What % cash buffer do you retain?