RE is a get rich slow game and there are increasing number of people talking about how difficult it is to retire from your day job even with large numbers of rentals because cash flow is thin.On the one hand there is the Small But Mighty portfolio mentality which I believe is a book in the BP store by Chad Carson.

I assumed a down payment would be in the books.

Your zoning should be ok, but you want to do everything by the book (which can be costly) to percent future insurance claims or injury claims in an unpermitted basement living space. 

I recommend diving into some books or podcasts on real estate investing (BP has plenty!!) 

If you think the mulch is somehow attracting these pests, maybe because it's wet from the sprinklers or something - perhaps swapping the mulch out for smooth rocks would help.

You will also want to keep a separate set of books for each LLC.

So I need to have the carpets cleaned professionally each year, and my cleaner has to use a home machine to spot clean about every month in the summer, when it is fully booked. 

I'm a brand new investor, have binge listened to every podcast, read the books, and am ready to GO!!

There have been one or two platforms that claimed that their goal was to eventually create a marketplace for investors to swap out any deal with another investor.

Can  you  add the extra cleaning fees to the extended stay, vs the guest would need to make a new booking to include this service?