If it is cluttered buyers will have a harder time visioning themselves living there. 

The tenants enjoy using the interface, it is simple to communicate with them as a whole or individually, collect rent payments and see when they are in transit, offer CC payment options at tenants expense, track maintenance request, share documents, and lease the property.Short comings are their financial portion.

Book recommendation #1: Hands Off Investor by @Brian Burke https://store.biggerpockets.com/products/the-hands-off-inves...Book recommendation #2: Lend to Live https://store.biggerpockets.com/products/lend-to-livePodcast Recommendation: PassivePockets podcast is focused on passive investing in syndications - https://passivepockets.com/podcast/Passive investing summit: PassivePockets Summit May 2-3rd in Columbus https://get.biggerpockets.com/passivepocketsevent/I make these recommendations specifically since you mentioned passive real estate investing, and syndications or hard money lending are really the two most passive ways to invest in real estate. 

I'm Ashley, and I live in the DFW area.

We are currently living just south of Boston and are looking to purchase a 2-4 unit property in which we would live in one of the units.

First: Can you commit to living there for at least two years?

Without know more specifics, I'd suggest selling what you have now and investing in properties closer to where you live (and pursue 1031 exchanges).

The person worked for H&R Block, now works for TurboTax Live and is being honest about their skills: NOT QUALIFIED.

There are no crazy tiles, the countertops don't have aggressive veining, and there are no crazy accent walls in the living room.

As I grow I will hire a virtual assistant to take a few more tasks off my plate to allow me to live the same lifestyle.