Quote from @Clifford Pereira: Hi, my wife and I started an Airbnb in Sacramento, CA, this year and are new to real estate investing.

We hope that you can remedy the situation so that we can move into a habitable home.Suggestions that we have to fix the issues:Hire a company to rip up the carpets, treat the subfloors, and replace the carpets, at least on the main level and on the stairs.Provide an air purifier as a start to remedying the smell.Replace the garbage disposal.Hire a plumber to fix the draining issue in the bathroom sink of the smaller bedroom.Fix the tiles in the upstairs bathroom so they no longer present a safety hazard.Replace or fix the screen doors.Fix the gap between the windows and the walls in the living room.Hire a professional company to treat the entire home for pests.

Tell people your policies, send them via email when they start the screening process, and send them again with your denial.

My goal is to build the capital needed to start investing in Real Estate, and I felt this was the best way to get there.I spent 6 years as a project superintendent with a commercial builder, followed by 2 years as a construction manager in the track home industry.

As a starting point: -If they work full time and make $700k a year -Don't want to or can't spend time self managing a short-term rental -Don't have a spouse who wants to take the lead on managing the rentals They are likely not going to directly reduce their taxable income with real estate year-to-year. 

Starting off you will not do a zero sum investment plus get other people to invest.  

The time has come for me to start investing in real estate and before doing so i'm looking to build a strong and dedicated team of partners: agents, lenders, contractors and property managers mainly in the Cleveland area (but also open to markets within a 2-3 hr drive away) that already possess an excellent track record in their line of work and that value long term collaboration.

When you specifically mentioned STR experience and the possibility of something with some added "personal value" bells started going off. 

The best way to start in rentals is by buying in your own area.

Start with great theming, keeping in mind the current trends taking place at the parks.