Most people try to "build a team" prematurely.If you are trying to invest out of state, you are most likely picking a market that a lot of other investors are in.

From your post it sounds like you reused all of the current furniture.

Your subscription will get you discounts on furniture along with some other cool benefits.Last thing, cheap furniture, particularly furniture that gets sat on, ends up being really expensive furniture because it has a limited lifespan.

I know I can probably house hack my way to 5 properties in 5 years, but I assume I'll probably learn more efficient and aggressive ways to scoop up more properties as I complete my 2nd-3rd house hack, so that I can start picking up more than 1 property per year.I don't want properties that will take a lot to fix up, I'm fine with cosmetics and do-it-yourself type things.

It can start with coffee and lunch but you can really pick their brains on all those aforementioned issues just for free.

Columbus, Ohio is a great market to pick up rental properties because of the lower home prices and demand from renters.

If you want to nit-pick reality, I guess I could get on-board… but the general concept is that you make allowances for the things you are talking about.  

Often if you’re getting names from someone else it’s likely not their #1 pick because they save them for their own projects.

Meet agents, meet property managers, pick some neighborhoods to focus on?  

IF that is the case, pick on where the rent is low and that solves one of your problems.you should be able to find out what your local laws are online.