You may be surprised how quickly the MLS value can improve with improved curb appeal alone as well, so consider the landscaping if you want a quicker way out of the property. 

You go to the internet.Well, guess what So does everyone else including actually MOTIVATED sellers.The ONLY way to reliably get in touch with motivated sellers is for you to make it extremely easy for them to find you.I call this "stalking the watering hole".SEO is obviously the best, but  PPC and Facebook ads (a service I do not provide... meaning I am not just saying this BECAUSE I offer SEO) are the next best thing each with advantages and disadvantages.Now, you are better off investing in an ever working lead generation system so you can automate this to generate the highest quality leads for free, than investing in a list, no matter the list and every single time you send mailers you have to 1) Hope they see the mailer2) Hope they open the mailer3) Hope that when and IF they open the mailer they are in the mood to read it4) Hope that when they 1. find the mailer, 2. and hopefully open the mailer, and 3. hopefully they are in the mood to read your mailer, and 4. they are coincidently in some sort of motivation state to act on the mailer, they will give YOU a call when they have received 400 other mailers from other peopleYou do realize that 50% of 50% is 25%.

Interest rates are showing signs of improvement. 

That said, some lenders are flexible if you can show the improvements made. 

I'll re-post here if I notice improvement :).  

You would determine an amount to set aside for repairs, improvements and vacancy beforehand.  

Are there things it doesn’t do well, or improvements you think could be made?

It’s a small single family three bedroom one bathroom unit, I bought it for cheap and plan on renting on the higher scale by making minor improvements such as flooring, fresh paints and of course new kitchen and bathroom

Here are a few thoughts I have:Market Research: I’m willing to dedicate time to researching potential properties and analyzing market trends to help identify lucrative deals.Networking: I aim to build relationships within the local real estate community, which could open doors to new opportunities for us all.Project Management: My military experience has equipped me with strong organizational and logistical skills that could help streamline processes and improve communication.I would love to hear from seasoned investors about their thoughts on partnering with someone who may not have a financial contribution upfront.

Knocking out improvements over the holidays, and selling beginning of the year when interest rates drop and home prices increase due to demand.