And what are you seeing in terms of quality and frequency of communication they offer you as a client? 

*Can anyone recommend a really good reference book that outlines ongoing house maintenance to-do, a schedule for frequency, and DIY instructions?

Look up the crime data and violent versus non-violent crimes and any increase in frequency.

Check frequency and if crimes are increasing or decreasing and also check if most crimes are violent or non-violent offenses.If you are buying 188,000 all cash you might want to look at a larger apartment building where you can leverage with finance.When doing deals you have to look at different pricing for different structures.I would have a different price for: 1. paying all cash2. owner holding a second note3. owner financeYou still do not overpay but when you put all cash down you need to get more yield for the property as you want to easily recapture some of that liquidity.If you have 2 million cash and are spending 200k it's can be not as important but if you are spending 188,000 cash and you have only 250,000 total then it becomes a bigger issue.

So far we like the frequency of 4 months as it forces us to go in and inspect and clean the unit. 

Please keep in mind it is not the frequency of incidents of biting that matters; it's the injuries sustained from those bites that do.  

Curious what others due in terms of frequency of checking decks for loose nails, damaged plans etc as well.

It's only bass noises that hurt him, he doesn't care about anything other than low frequency, but still I'm sure he'll hear something as just like being next to businesses that keep getting robbed it is also literally next door to a Baptist church.

Thats like a .7% rule.Do any experienced people go under a .7%, or over a 144 with any frequency?  

Things like auction process, frequency lender repossession, for example through a deed in lieu, allowing financing, differences in trustee responsibilities for DOT states, foreclosure costs and timeline, etc.