Types of fees:Application fees:  Above info is spot on, the only advice I would give is that higher fees means less applicants (we decided not to charge at all when we self managed, it did not add up to very much each year) and if it is non-refundable there are likely tenant-landlord laws about what you have to disclose about your criteria before they apply.Late rent: If rent is late, there is an exra fee. 

A Pro membership gives you the tools and resources you need to start, scale or manage your portfolio.

But it's stuff like this that makes it really tough to manage properties in the state."

You'll need to make a best guess on things like insurance, repairs & maintenance, management, and landscaping/snowplow for now.

Any recommendations for a Property Manager for a home in Sherrills Ford on Lake Norman that we'd like to use for Short Term Rentals?

Some people are afraid of remote property management but I am not.

But we need to manage this much better, the process is a desaster and has been since forever. 

@Philip Choi I would always recommend going with a professional property manager.

I want to set up a trustee and possibly use an LLC to manage it.

I now live out of town and still invest but it's not like it used to be.If you DM me I can give you the realtor/property manager I use.