We completely remodeled the kitchen last year and the yard this summer; the biggest thing holding it back from demanding $2500-3000/month would be the doors and trim to dress it all up.One fear I have is that if we pull out a $40k unsecured, personal loan out to finish the basement, what does that do for our future rental property purchases?

Look for unkempt yards, windows with no dressings (curtains, blinds, etc.), houses you can see daylight thru, overstuffed mailboxes, newspapers, etc. collecting in the driveway or on the stoop, ...

I've known professionals who are very sharply dressed and you would never think they smoke.  

However, you can also accomplish a lot of the same things, though not efficiently, via entity formation for other business streams outside of RE.Scott - there's just no way to dress this pig up.

Usually older men, dressed very casually, driving trucks.  

@Ryan Dressel I live in Conshohocken and I've been keeping my eye open for any opportunities in the area (the rental numbers don't seem to work, but the appreciation has potential).  

As to the mate situation all I can say is fins someone who you admire their character not how they look or dress. 

HOWEVER, as I'm sure you've read by now, there are plenty of charlatans out there just looking to sell you whatever dressed-up dumpster fire they happen to have on hand and then leave you holding the bag.

I also make sure to drive my $2,000 car to the property to do minor repairs myself and dress is very inexpensive clothing.  

Don't dress or talk like a salesman.