Let's cut the BS and be honest.

This is where things became confusing: The title company answered a couple days later that they could not cut a check to the IRS, and that the accounting firm was supposed to cash the check and write another to the IRS themselves. 

BP sometimes cuts my messages short because I use a cut/paste for common questions.Check out File Place: https://www.biggerpockets.com/...The link is located in the footer of every page on the left side.

Had a roommate for 5 years to keep everything afloat and cut costs to the bone. 

I normally advise people to self manage for the first part of their journey if they can so that they can get a knowledge base to become better investors.At some point if you get to enough units self management is tough and its too costly to hire an employee so the numbers make sense hiring a property manager.To be blunt, you are going down a risky path for an investor.  

If you had to cut it yourself would you use a propelled push mower on a quarter acre every couple of weeks during the summer in the heat???

This isn't so cut and dry as some of the folks are trying to make it. 

You tend to see these short cuts taken more frequently in lower valued real estate where it can be  difficult to make the numbers pencil if you are following all licensing and permitting requirements.

If you were starting a new STR or MTR, what are some things you can do to cut down on future maintenance?

But due to cut backs I was asked to take a pay cut, No way was I settling for less than I'm worth.