I’ve been approaching it with a focus on refinancing as quickly as possible and with minimal cash down, but I see how a blended strategy depending on the situation could be even more effective.

Today's technology allows us to collaborate seamlessly with our clients.

need: vacuum,  microrags, a pound of walnuts, a box of baking soda and 8 ounces of olive oil. 1. clean the wheels on the vacuum and clean out filter then vacuum all the floors. 2. with microrags on your knees and a spritz NOT a dunk in water clean all the dust. 3. blend up 20 walnuts and rub them into the scratches with the grain. 4. 1 part baking soda 1 part olive oil go back over the scratches that still show on your hands and knees with paper towels (you can use the microrags but they won't come clean you will need to throw them away) 5. dust again with dry rags and get up all the nuts and soda - wear glasses to see all the crumbs. 

Have you found a favorite brand and line of carpet (or a few) that blend all those attributes?

That's great to hear that you like tenant cloud and it seems to be working seamlessly with partial payments.

Therefore, I have very low turnover and my goals have changed from maximizing $$$ to a blend of good $$$ and ease of management!!  

It will lower your blended interest rate for your STR investment.If you're borrowing at fixed 3-4% interest and buying a 7-10% CAP deal, that leaves a lot of room for cashflow. 

Sometimes it is more seamless if you create your own letter of intent with your preferred terms and then have the tenant mark it up with their comments.

Here are the numbersPurchase price: 125kRent: 1% (1250/month)Monthly costs:Prop taxes: 160Capex (10%): 125Repairs (10%): 125PM fee (10%): 125Mortgage (assuming I finance 81k) at 3.9%: 383closing costs to refi will be around 2500, I blended that cost in over 24 months: 104In this scenario, my COC if I keep this as an all cash purchase is 5%. 

So if you are looking for somewhat better yield, security, diversification, and maybe an inflation hedge, it makes a lot of sense.Right, I’d also be careful looking at blended return for a bond fund.