House hacking can be a great way to get started investing while cutting your living expenses down to nothing.

Be careful to read about broker and other fees, or you may end up spending more than you expected.

The same economies of scale would could apply to submerging utilities and other cost cutting areas. 

Be careful renting out a basement.  

2) Will the tenants be responsible for lawn care, will you be managing that, or will that be hired out?

I am looking for recommendations on a lawn care company to service the rental properties as well as a handyman to call for repairs/maintenance issues.

Cut your losses, and learn from this experience.

It will certainly cost more than if you were managing yourself and trying to get individual contractors/handymen to take care of issues, but such a company will already have those people on staff and enough jobs to keep them available for when something comes up at your property.

My neighbor at a house I recently sold wanted me to cut down a tree that he felt was a danger to his property, conveniently after I called the cops on him for repeatedly parking in my driveway and refusing to move his vehicles... 

Her performance could only be due to 1 of 2 things: she either didn't care, or she was not competent.