This company has property management software for smart apartments and can do the ekey handoff seamlessly for your renters.

Should I wait for the storm and get tenants for seasonal renting (3+ months) or should I just get some long-term renters now?

So if we hated being landlords, or couldn't find renters, it was no big deal because we bought a house for our $280K budget. 

I didn't want a learning thermostat trying to figure out what I or any renters want.

@Marcia Maynard  Re: CRP   Certificate of Rent Paid tax Form..This is a State Tax Form some states require it some don't, and it may be referred to as something similar but if you have rental property in a state where it is required you as landlord must provide this form to your renters for the tax year  they paid you rent ,by Jan 31 the following year.. so 2017 rental income would be filled out on the form and must be given to tenant by January 31,2018.. 

I am also unsure of the renter market in the area as well.

A property manager knows the market that they are in and those with a decent portfolio sees the market changes and what attracts renters more than a sole building owner.A property manager doesn't do everything for you in a small portfolio like this, they just handle the day to day, paying bills, and resident interactions. 

Tom Carroll Paul's situation is different from most, as his renters tend to be workers coming into town who don't mind sharing a house with other workers.

Other forms of direct marketing accounts for the rest of my first time renters. 

I have a renter that needs to have a co-signer or guarantor.