After my tenants got on board, I started using the rent collection feature which charges no fee and other financial tracking features they offer.

Managing a property manager is an art form and a crucial art to learn if you plan on growing your business to say 100 units.

I like the search features: https://www.biggerpockets.com/searchAlerts can be really helpful too: http://www.biggerpockets.com/alertsThere are a few self-contained guides that you can access here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/guides

@Rick Stambaugh , I use realeflow and i'm transitioning to Podio.....realeflow for data is a great option it also has a feature that allows you to market your properties to other investors that use realeflow.  

You'll need safety features like a pool alarm.

I self manage so I don't use that feature.

My question is; has anyone had experiences where a minor upgrade or feature unexpectedly raised the value of a house, or one that didnt raise it or even detracted from the value?

That will tell you the health of the association which is crucial for future value and appreciation.

This is why it is crucial to align with a team that has your best interest in mind (longevity of the asset & relationship) and can assist you in making decisions from hundreds or even thousands of miles away.

Many members are experts in their respective fields related to real estate investing, whether that is real estate brokerage, wholesaling, flipping, buy and hold, lending, self-directed IRA and Solo 401k investing, or tax and legal guidance.There are some pretty cool discounts on various products and services offered as Perks to BP members that you might want to check out: https://www.biggerpockets.com/perks/proIf you haven’t checked it out already, the Bigger Pockets blog features links to their awesome podcast and many great articles: https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/The site has quite a few tools that can be helpful for new members.