I also lock exterior A/C circuit boxes and label the units, cage and circuit box with A/C specific alarm stickers that I had made up.I will frequently install an inexpensive alarm system (not monitored) which gives me peace of mind between tenants and acts as a selling point when showing the units.I've doubled up on door stops (to prevent doorknobs from going into walls).

We love and miss Virginia too but yes it's quite the sticker shock compared to here. 

I have little to no vacancy, decent rents, and although appreciation isn't going to skyrocket (even in a boom period), I find the properties very accessible in terms of cost.Part of me is tempted to gravitate towards my next property in an urban area BUT when the sticker price is 2-3x what it is in the rural setting......it's difficult to decide!

I've put up bandit signs and stickers which got surprisingly few calls I put an add on the internet and got 10 times more responses.

It is also handing out stickers to landlords to put in their legal secondary suites to show that they own a safe suite.

Watch the windows for stickers that may indicate the real estate agent, and of course talk to anyone who shows up.

IF the month to month tenants are good and don't give you any problems like repairs requests, late on rent, etc, then you may not want to lose them so any increase in rents should come in steps and not all at once (sticker shock to tenant).For the others will longer term rental agreements, you are contractually obligated to complete those terms before you increase rents on them.

If I were looking for possible owners in DC to try to get them to sell I'd go with cross referencing DCRA's vacant property (the ones with the bright day-glo "VACANT" stickers on them) lists with the DC property tax database.

There are stickers posted on the windows stating that the house is abandoned.

If you didn't get any lender credit because you paid cash or for some other reason, you could be seeing sticker price of the closing costs.