Just out of curiosity.Are the lots shovel ready?

@Willie Webb Orlando, FL are my contacts.

Safe Travels and leave your snow shovel up there,,,, no need here!

The tenant will then sign the estoppel to attest to its content.This is by far the best way to find out if there are any discrepancies in the information provided by the vendor (like the monthly rent being paid by one tenant is actually $100/month less that what is written into the lease, because he's the owners son and he vacuums the corridors and sweeps/shovels the walks).You can do the same thing with any service providers (i.e. snow removal or garbage service).

That newer asphalt, or when it is resealed or newly striped, looks pretty sharp (but then you have some costs and maintenance), but I am not sure the attractive lot would bring much more in rent nor would gravel drive off good tenants.Finally, I shovel snow with the body sled type shovels and it would knock me out without a smooth surface underneath like asphalt or cement, so with gravel maybe check how that would work with your snow removal system (be it shovel, snowblower, or plow truck)...probably gravel best fit for plow truck...Best of luck

I personally dont like YL for the reasons you mentioned, but pretty much all marketing methods work with enough volume (postcards, YL, flares, smoke signals, etc).It DOES attract sellers, since I know some great investors who ONLY use yellow letters.  

Or with a duplex driveway, one could try a snowblower or one of the body sled type shovels (depends on your amount of snowfall and personal fitness/interest).

We're looking into paying someone to mow the lawns and shovel snow at our two rental properties which are now 20+ minutes from our house.

I know ice melt is very corrosive on concrete and driveways and I personally don't use it in my house - even though my driveway faces North and comes with all the wonderful joy of shoveling.

(basically just shoveling walkways etc)Looking at $87,024 in expenses before cap ex, maintenance and management.