@John Teachout We both agreed that a month-to-month addendum would be a good solution.

First step is realize your need for a home for your family doesn't negate what land lords/PMs require to rent to you.Second step and a possible solution is to the problem is put yourself in the LL/PMs shoes so you can understand why they have that requirement. 

To say this differently, the minute you suspect they've given up or are stringing you along, then yes....lower the boom and issue Pay or Quit.Here's one solution to getting paid: put them on weekly rent payments until they recover the full amount of their payment. 

This is fine and it is a viable solution but you have to choose the management company via extreme vetting.

You can monitor the camera system and flood light triggers similar to or the same as a Ring system and of course make sure windows and doors are fully secured.I would also talk to the neighbors on each side and across he street letting them know that under no circumstances should anyone be there on the property outside of X hours of the day and to call you or the police if they see anything.

I fully agree with @Nancy Bachety and I like the concierge solution suggested by@Anand S.

Use Teamviewer and you can watch your worker(s) on your monitor as they work.

You are going to need skin in the game unless you can find creative solutions like owner financing, friends/relatives happy to take a second lien position or whatever. 

We buy our own equipment for our small retail stores and pay Geoarm $12/month for monitoring.

I hope you're able to find a solution.