Everyone wants someone else to pay for everything that happens to them as if there are no such things as accidents and there will always be someone there to pick them up when they trip and skin their knee.

@David MedinaWhen you get the free companion offer for the 3-day in your email, definitely pick someone to take with you.

The garbage hasn't been picked up in forever and the water has been shut off for weeks.

Pick a date. 

Your place looks very nice, be sure to furnish felt pads for furniture...and felt moving disc thingys if your tenant class is a self moving type.

As long as you are a realistic buyer as to your local market conditions (IE if its an appreciation market a la San Francisco, you aren't looking for 20% value-add c-class deals), then you should be able to get a property under contract QUICK, and as such there is no reason to start looking this far ahead.

You call just pick up the phone and call as well. 

If I could just pick your brain for a second...in what I do, inexpensive rentals and handyman rehab, I simply HAVE TO HAVE a highly reliable HVAC/plumbing guy for AC/furnace and boiler repair, replacement, and maintenance.

I recently closed on my first property-- a 4plex picked up using an FHA mortgage near downtown Anchorage.

I am nearing the end of my summer break from college and classes will start in a week.