You have to prepare the site for the home with a good base.  

I was recently prepared to put a 1BR on the market for $1895, until my mgr. caught wind of it and said to offer it at $1,995. 

First of all, attempting to hoodwink or mislead the seller gives all of us a bad name.Second of all, you need to be prepared to close on the property yourself if you can't find a assignee. 

I (John) am a veteran, so funding shouldn't be an issue, but we are taking a very conservative route and building our business plan to cover anything we can thing of to help better be prepared when it's time to jump. 

I'm trying to be pro active and trying to prepare for the worst.

Be prepared to pay for it though, most good contractors don't like giving bids to investors for houses that haven't closed yet.

I was actually planning and preparing to MRED program at USC as you are but the path just didn't work out.  

I just need to know what are ways I can really prepare myself?

Monthly ReportsOn or before the 15th of each month the management company should prepare.

Lesson learned...Check your load...and ...No one will do a job like you will...or sub it out and be done with it (but be prepared to pay the piper)