Ok so 1st get off the internet, waste of time 2ND, no demand for sec 8, (like I said get off the internet) MASSIVE demand.

Both approaches can be effective, but they come with different sets of considerations.Turnkey properties are often a safer choice, especially for those just starting out.

The way my lease reads the tenant remains responsible to pay rent and utilities to "prevent waste of the premesis."

What’s been most effective for you, and are there any unique or creative approaches you’ve tried that have worked?

Any tips or tricks for staying organized and tracking leads effectively?

There's potentially a domino effect in the event of an unforeseen major expense exceeding my reserves (mainly thinking in terms of natural disasters) affecting my whole portfolio.  

Quote from @Reid Chauvin: @Manuel Reza - if the rooms are furnished, furnished finder is a great option for both short and mid-term stays thanks Reid, is $99 per year, I guess is well worth it, meaning is effective, do you think so?

Being able to enter a property with only 5% down means you can leverage your money way more effectively as well.

I will need to remove the carpet and replace it with something durable and cost effective. 

if your doing a senior project I would suspect your best and most cost effective landing solution is going to be a local community bank that loves real estate.. in my experience most will want 50% down on the dirt and a ton of experience and a really strong balance sheet.Myself I always pay cash for the dirt this makes finding a lending partner much easier.