This is not easy to do consistently and effectively.

The one aspect I'd say where planning can really provide benefit however is with tax planning.  

If you consistently analyze properties, recognizing a good deal will be much easier when it shows up.

Meanwhile my two 1/1 condos in Boulder rent consistently.

And while nothing is foolproof the most consistent method of finding good vendors is relying on OTHER real estate investors that have worked with those vendors. 

I have a mid-term rental in Southern California near the beach that is consistently losing money each year.

We are in Tampa so a similar market.We provide a starter set which is clearly communicated to guests (thought some people do not like it and clearly do not read which you cannot help) generally consisting of:- 2 Laundry Pods- 2 Dishwasher pods- 2 Rolls of Toilet Paper per bathroom- 2 Paper Towel Rolls- 2 Trashbags- All soaps are refillable including dish soap, hand soap, and body washes/shampoos.They are expected to get their own should they run out of anything. 

Do you have any go-to value-adds that consistently bring the best return?

After feeling hopeless, lost and confused about a year ago, I'm happy to report that I'm starting to see the light and the path to wealth after taking consistent action, and am excited to be seeing the progress.Cheers, to constant and never ending improvementArgelI don’t see how it’s possible to generate enough cash flow as a real estate investor starting with no or limited capital.  

The rental demand in the area has been consistent, and duplexes offer the flexibility of house hacking or scaling into multi-family investing over time.With your experience in construction and remodeling, you’re already ahead of the game—fix-and-flips or BRRRR projects in Kansas City could be a perfect fit for you.