Frankly, even if renting long distance, you do NOT need a management firm, and the risk of finding a tenant that will trash your place is slim. You just need to look for the correct kind of tenant -- good PERSONAL references, presence online that shows that the person is who they say they are, hopefully somewhat technically proficient and capable of unclogging a toilet themselves. Rent should be 5-10% under market to give you a wide choice of potential tenants.