There is also only a thermostat in the downstairs unit to control the heat with the radiators in the house.

Please read the Capitalisation without Capital book, it is elaborating these points2) Most countries in the world, do not have enough technical staff(IT staff, programmers and engineers), and welcome these engineers to their country.

But things like changing faucets, replacing sink drain pipes, etc is fairly simple, it is just a matter of buying LOTS of different fittings so you are sure you have the best one, and return the rest.HVAC lesson learned was shut off the breaker to the furnace before changing a thermostat. 

Heat pumps can be the primary heat source, and if your insurance agent or others want to see backup - I suggest electric baseboards that have built in thermostats. 

It does not have to be the same person.I'd prefer to stay local to Central PA - I realize that being passive would allow long-distance investing and that would allow for greater diversification - but I may want to take over management of the properties myself at some future time, so I want them to be local.I don't have a strong network where I live - I did not grow up here, and I'm self employed as a computer programmer - so I have little interaction with the industry.Thanks for all the excellent info that is posted here.

All units have seperate thermostats.

The teachers were actual programmers, who made their living at their day job, teaching only for the pleasure of helping new programmers.

This should be programmable I think.Members like J Scott, Jon K., Jon Holdman etc. can start with more points to demonstrate there actual experience.

It's way more open, but I'm also a computer programmer and have a passion for technology.

I just had a thermostat pulled off the wall by a tenants kids and they fix it the same day i called...no charge.