It is pretty simple. 

Adi,Real simple advice.  

Forget trying to walk them through a simple repair over the phone, to avoid sending a ServiceTech and saving an owner money.

The goal is to capture guest email and phone to be able to implement what you're asking via an email campaign. 

I manage with simple notes, spread sheet, even just making tags in my phones SMS to search back and find that person every 30 days.   

The concept of material participation is not simple, unfortunately.

Yes, you can take advantage of it through a simple LLC or partnership agreement. 2.

This is pretty simple.

I have no experience in the field and understand fully it's not a simple endeavor. 

Rent Reporting Service to credit bureaus for the debt is effective and simple, pro is low cost, set and forget and high success rates, con is while you can report all unpaid rent you can't report damages unless they are quantified by an order from a landlord tenant board or small claims court.