Expect to brush an OH on a weekly basis to keep the coat from matting. Otterhounds have big hairy feet that are attracted to mud. Most OHs aren't slobbery dogs, but they've got beards and long hairy ears that get into their water bowls, food dishes, etc., and then act as transport mechanisms to spread water, food, etc. around. Unless you are actively showing the dog, frequent baths should not be necessary. You will probably need to clean ears on a regular basis.
Otterhounds have a deep bay, a lovely melodious sound, which carries amazingly well.
Some OHs are fairly quiet, and some seem to like the sound of their own voice. As a large dog with an impressively deep voice, an Otterhound can make a good watch dog, but their friendly nature makes them poor candidates as guard dogs. What you feed an Otterhound depends on the dog and what you are doing with it. There are two things to consider. An Otterhound is large dog and will be more expensive to feed than a smaller dog.