I make the points more for new landlords because they don't know how to be a landlord yet and are more likely to not get rent on time because they don't have processes.

Road surface.Subdivision rules and application process.  

Would a long-term rental be a better option just to get some experience with the home-buying process, before jumping into Airbnbs?

They should know the process super well and have their own contacts with leaders and managers to be able to ensure things run smoothly.There is a weekly open-office time for residents to be able to sit down with their case manager (I think it's Weds, but I haven't seen the time printed out recently so it may have changed.

If not, pay a coach or mentor to help navigate through the process. 

This is a plus.Transparency and reliability – Ask about their process for keeping clients updated, especially on long-distance deals.

There's a lot to be said about this but having process in place to mitigate turns going bad helps.

After you find these out, you can begin the process to subdivide it.

Perform the same task in each app to ensure a fair comparison.Load a property with pictures and details.Market that property.See what your marketing looks like from the public's perspective.Submit a fake application to see how easy the process is.Run a credit/screening report on yourself.Enter a maintenance request, assign a vendor, and attach a fake invoice.Enter charges to the tenant's ledger.Enter recurring charges and automatic late fees.Sign documents electronically.Run owner reports.After testing a few apps, one should clearly stand out.

I just moved into my 'live in flip' house just north of Boston and loved the process also.