My mother purchased a property on 2011 for 480000 in California.

If not, I most definitely would reach out to the tenant, introduce myself and ask if they are going to be out by the 31st or the 1st, I would communicate  to the tenant as if I know they were told they are expected to leave, otherwise you may find they "do not know" they need to leave even if they actually know they need to leave....In the case they claim they are not aware they need to leave, you would need to follow the laws in the state you purchased the property, usually you can find that info on the states judicial branch or speak with a landlord tenant attorney. 

Purchase price: $70,000 This was a 3 bed 1 bath that I paid for.

For example, with our private investors, we always ensure that deals are secured by real assets and provide full transparency throughout the process.

Quote from @Holly Radice: I am looking into purchasing a 4 unit in Ohio as my first property.

Do you use any tools or services to automate the process, or is it something you manually handle?

It's common practice to stock enough for a few days, as you've been doing, and let guests purchase more if needed for longer stays.

This allows you to purchase a place at 5% down and renovate as you need to.

How to track potential growth in an area to see if a lot is viable for purchase and building spec homes on etc. 

I don't know if this is for you, but my husband and I have mentored quite a few investors in Canada and helped them purchase their own multifamily.