Within a few years, I was able to pay back every penny I owed my family.

They pay for it. 

Meaning that if you fund a $5K EMD and then decide not to close you lose the EMD, or you pay for an inspection up front and risk missing out on the deal while you're waiting for the report.

Pay attention to 99% of the posts on Bigger Pockets, most folks here have very little money.

If so, adding amenities that your ideal guest will find valuable = they'll pay more for it.

I’m not sure if it has a pay bill feature, or checks.

Is it better to sell, pay off mortgage and capital gains and take the cash to invest in another property or is it better to refi/ETO and take the cash to invest in another property?

However, hauling away a truckload of items and cleaning beyond standard expectations could reasonably be charged to the tenant, as it goes beyond normal use.Goodwill Gesture: Since this tenant was great for 5.5 years—paying on time and caring for the property—you might consider waiving part of the cleaning cost as a goodwill gesture.

Now, you need to figure out how to find deals and pay for them.

While buying one that’s up and running might seem a good idea - paying for speed - if you’re not quite ready, sometimes the best deal you make is the one you don’t make at all.