BRRRR method is also a great way to go - good luck!  

The only piece of advice that I would give is that getting a STR to market is death by 1000 cuts.

I'm a financial planner by profession so you'd think the default answer is, "heck yeah, always hire a planner!"  

Too many newbies seem to think they can blindly follow "old" advice in today's real estate market and be successful.Many, basically get taken advantage of by those in the industry that have an incentive to keep newbies blind to new realties, just to keep their good times rolling.What many newbies have figured out is that they can't make the numbers work on rental purchases in their states - like California, Arizona, New York, New Jersey, Washington, etc.What they have NOT figured out is that if they go to cheaper markets, they aren't being shown Class A rentals to buy.

They'll expect electronic payment options.8) Understanding your local landlord-tenant laws, so you don't make a mistake or get taken advantage of by tenant.9) How will you handle maintenance issues?

After being displaced by the Maui wildfire in Lahaina Town, I began a new journey in the Midwest.

I'd send out 500 at a time, using a different mailer/method weekly.

BUTTTT there is sooooo mcuh garbage out there that you'll have to sift through to find the gold and then you have to learn it, put it in proper order, THENNNN take action. 

I've been apart of transactions where the deal was structured by offering the seller a percentage of the difference between the original purchase price and the new value at refi.

(Like RC Wiley) The money losing warranties offered by utility companies.