If we were able, I would use one of those electronic lockboxes instead - the type where the guest punches in a code and then the door unlocks, rather than having a physical key - but it wasn't in our budget.Another key hire for renting from a distance hire would be a local handyman to handle any emergencies that come up while guests are staying there.

I just had a mouse problem too and went and bought 3 Victor Pro Electronic mouse traps on eBay and I caught a bunch of mice and so far have not seen or heard anymore at the property.

Smart locks is a term used by several manufacturers.... some with keys and some without.You are probably referring to "keyless door locks", which may be mechanical or electronic.

@Joe BakerGood question.Following are the similarities and differences between the solo 401k and the self-directed IRA.The Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401k Similarities Both were created by congress for individuals to save for retirement;Both may be invested in alternative investments such as real estate, precious metals tax liens, promissory notes, private company shares, and stocks and mutual funds, to name a few;Both allow for Roth contributions;Both are subject to prohibited transaction rules;Both are subject to federal taxes at time of distribution;Both allow for checkbook control for placing alternative investments;Both may be invested in annuities;Both are protected from creditors;Both allow for nondeductible contributions;Both are prohibited from investing in assets listed under I.R.C. 408(m); andThe Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401k DifferencesIn order to open a solo 401k, self-employment, whether on a part-time or full-time basis, is required;To open a self-directed IRA, self-employment income is not required;In order to gain IRA checkbook control over the self-directed IRA funds, a limited liability company (CHECKBOOK IRA LLC) must be utilized;The solo 401k allows for checkbook control from the onset;The solo 401k allows for personal loan known as a solo 401k loan;It is prohibited to borrow from your IRA;The Solo 401k may be invested in life insurance;The self-directed IRA may not be invested in life insurance;The solo 401k allow for high contribution amounts (for 2016; the solo 401k contribution limit is $53,000, whereas the self-directed IRA contribution limit is $5,500);The solo 401k business owner can serve as trustee of the solo 401k;The self-directed IRA participant/owner may not serve as trustee or custodian of her IRA; instead, a trust company or bank institution is required;When distributions commence from the solo 401k a mandatory 20% of federal taxes must be withheld from each distribution and submitted electronically to the IRS by the 15th of the month following the date of each distribution;Rollovers and/or transfers from IRAs or qualified plans (e.g., former employer 401k) to a solo 401k are not reported on Form 5498, but rather on Form 5500-EZ, but only if the air market value of the solo 401k exceeds $250K as of the end of the plan year (generally 12/31);When funds are rolled over or transferred from an IRA or 401k to a self-directed IRA, the amount deposited into the self-directed IRA is reported on Form 5498 by the receiving self-directed IRA custodian by May of the year following the rollover/transfer.Rollovers (provided the 60 day rollover window is satisfied) from an IRA to a Solo 401k or self-directed IRA are reported on lines 15a and 15b of Form 1040;Pre-tax IRA contributions on reported on line 32 of Form 1040;Pre-tax solo 401k contributions are reported on line 28 of Form 1040;Roth solo 401k funds are subject to RMDs;A Roth 401k may be transferred to a Roth IRA (Note that from a planning perspective, it may be advantageous to transfer Roth Solo 401k funds to a Roth IRA before turning age 70 ½ in order to escape the Roth RMD requirement applicable to Roth 401k contributions including Roth Solo 401k contributions and earnings.)

If its a single with a stable tenant, I would recommend trying it yourself with some caveats. 1) Use cozy.co to make everything electronic. 2) have a list of contractors or an emergency number for the tenant to call in case of an electrical/plumbing/HVAC emergency.

I think most electronics these days can run off of wireless, so I'm not sure you would be getting the bang for the buck.

Sending a letter to every tenant letting them know the new hours are between 7am and 10pm out of respect to others in the building near the laundry.Also let them know they will placed on electronic timers that shut off between those hours.Also wished them a Happy Christmas while I had there attention in the letter.

One of the positive side effects of having a banking system dominated by 5 players with coast to coast coverage of Canada is that we have had universal, simple and affordable electronic payment methods for 20years ... tenants have had the ability to pay rent via e-mail for over a decade.While we still accept post-dated cheques and cash payments for rent, we have begun to charge extra for those methods of payment (because the bank charges us extra to process them).  

Accepting a tenant backed by a Section 8 voucher, and agreeing to spend time/effort above & beyond what would be required by any conventional market tenant are 2 mutually exclusive things.I'd be happy to accept a Section 8 tenant, so long as the following was understood in advance:1) The Housing Authority (not me) must fill out all paperwork regarding my home, and send to me for easy electronic signature.2) I must be compensated for the time my home is removed from the market, while awaiting the Federal Inspection - assuming I find a qualified conventional tenant willing to rent during the inspection waiting-period (a per diem for potential rent-loss). 3) The inspection must be scheduled with consideration for my convenience, and I must be compensated for the time taken to travel to the property and meet with the Inspector.In other words, my total "charge" as a PM to process all paperwork & handle the Section 8 scheduling/inspection would be a reasonable $100-$150.

I agree it sure is easy these days to get things done electronically.