I'll tell you the costs then tell you my experiences.Patlive is apparently the most recommended answering service out there by many many real estate circles as well as some investor friends I know.Cost is normally 100$ a month + 1$/min.I myself have used these services and found out that they are notorious for not "answering" at some critical times.

In winter I would switch to Hornady Critical Defense.

No critical path visualization and no way to track all of the hard costs associated with a build.”

Finding a good property management company is critical to out-of-town investing.  

What I do think is critical is that they are onboard with why you are doing it and why it's important.

N pays amounts to install the machine, and after the machine is installed, N pays amounts to perform a critical test on the machine to ensure that it will operate in accordance with quality standards.

This is compounded by your not being able to get an inspection before closing which really is critical during the buying process.  

@Edwin PalacioI think a standard thing to do is to grow your W2 income to a point where it is funding your investment portfolio until it reaches "critical mass".  

Master personal finance, save some money, then invest ... don't try to shortcut around these critical steps, it is like trying to build a 3 story house on a sand foundation without first pouring any concrete.

I believe the right PM is critical to my success and if I do well, he or she should do well.