I can usually save a decent amount, especially if I keep eyes out for deals and buy when these items are priced most competitively and not necessarily when I need them.Using the bathroom remodel apartment as an example, I will spend $1,500 more per unit than most of my competitors who renovate in the same market but that $1,500  (5% of my apartment renovation budget) gets me  oversized soaking tub in most units, nicer tiled bathrooms, counter tops that don't look like every other apartment in the neighborhood & a step up in appliance package and better quality fixtures.

I know in the lending world our competitors will turn non licensed HML in all day long. 

If someone is anonymous, and not being specific about what the complaint is....how do we know they are not just a competitor trying to throw shade at their competition? 

I sat on bottles often so we'd always have something fun to highlight that our competitors didn't. 

@Carl Rowles we screen all tenants exactly the same, but know several of our local competitors cut corners to attract more S8 applicants - waiving application fees, security deposits, etc.You can try to weed out applicants that have poor "house maintenance" skills by doing surprise zoom calls and asking them to show you their kitchen, bathroom and another room.

You want to research the local STR market and see what your competitors are doing and consider what could make sense for you.

After the market crashed in 2008 we went on a buying spree from about 2009 until 2015/6 (buy & hold) until the numbers didn't make as much sense as the prices started creeping up again, rent prices were flat and many competitors started entering the marketplace.  

Currently, we have learned a lot on how deals happen and what it takes to be a competitor in our market.

Quote from @John Canwell: When John D Rockefeller bought up oil railcars and then bought out his competitors and raised prices, the government acted.  

That means you are inviting pitches from competitors and occasionally, responses from that coaching program ready to get you on a call to discuss right away.