If I could, pick your brain a bit more, how much do you typically set aside for things like CapEx/Vacancy?

I usually adjust temperature right before a check in to make it comfortable for guest.Love the Honeywell 9000 color touchscreen thermostats.They also allow me to locking a temperature range so the guests can't set temperature to 60 in the summer.

This house had 12” of water/ice in the basement... there’s a nice sump pump set up just sitting there with no power...

Switching property managers seems like it was a smart move, especially with how much you and your wife had to step in before.Chicago definitely isn’t an easy market, but it sounds like you’re set up for better success moving forward.

This prime location offers a serene and peaceful setting.

If I can't find what I want second hand then purchase from local furniture store for heavy use items like beds/frames, dressers, dining sets.

The great thing is you get to set your own rules and experiment until you find that sweet spot for you. 

Use a CRM to save everyone's contact info, set reminders for yourself to follow-up, create follow-up campaigns, etc.5.

I trained and set up the same type of seller financed side for the largest home builder in the state.

its mostly focused on retail, but the inputs are infinitely adjustable for whatever asset you are going after.