I was very surprised in the lack of showings on our new build.  

The downsides are that we aren’t too keen on owning rentals in CA given potential tenant issues, the lack of cash flow, etc.

So it is quite archaic compared to the US or Europe.I am embarking on the research phase and would like to get some tips for someone like me in Asia, on what you guys think I should be doing to get around some of the lacks I have mentioned.Appreciate the advicePrad

As others have said, get bids, make sure you're comparing apples to apples, with an outline of the scope of work being the same. :)

Generally, when I have issues in multi-way partnerships, I attempt to address it with the party before lawyering up, as there's usually a good chance there's a legitimate misunderstanding or lack of information.

Also keep in mind that most residential structures in China are made of concrete and an extremely minimal amount is paid towards maintenance, and the vast majority of Chinese people lack a basic understanding of how western housing is built and maintained.

However, Salt Lake Valley seems to be a bit overinflated at the moment due to the lack of supply. 

Blame it on your lack of research.

If you bought Apple stock in the 1983 most lost money or broke even.

If you only have a few units its easier to deal with a few "bad apples" but as you grow, your headache grows.So the moral of this story, hire a good PM.