I have spent approx $700 in marketing this past year but made several fold over just from that.I hope this helps some......I would love to know what is working for you and what is not. 

Anyway the delay in me purchasing my next rental property was two fold

I didn’t have a large marketing budget, or any budget for that matter, so in order to send out the direct mailers I bought a list and put together 2000 yellow letters by buying the paper and envelopes in bulk at Walmart and then spending the next couple of weeks every night from midnight to 2am, after the kids were sleeping, just folding and stamping them to save money.

It’s literally a brand new house inside an existing structure, we replaced absolutely everything and our investment is almost at that number too.I believe our issue is 2 fold: price and time.

They had 2 futons in the livingroom that folded out into beds,  then they had built a kind of "L" shaped wall out of recycled doors (it actually looked pretty cool) and put a bunk bed that was a full on bottom and a twin on top on the other side of it.  

Look like the closing will be coming up soon.I was concerned that after all the time and effort and expense that went in so far to get up to this point that the seller was going to be able to pull some excuse on me about how they couldn't work with me due to 2008 purchase price, or just not respond to my request for concession and make me have to fold up and walk away.I'll keep everyone posted on the final outcome mid October 

From a property owner perspective, my response is 2 fold

Know when to hold em and when to fold em ‘ .. it’s time to fold em bro .

They're usually so disappointed with the results of the open house that their motivation goes up 10 fold.

Also many old tools in walls over the years; usually tape measures (old fashioned kind that fold out like rulers), planers, levels, flat bars, crow bars, nailsets, hammers and such.