It seems that if you can find a good deal on the purchase price, are willing to do cosmetic updates (floors, painting, maybe a kitchen) you can get that 100-200/month cash flow.  

Assuming it’s not a 50 year old home with lead paint, asbestos, lead pipes, etc etc.

Deep cleaning, new paint, lots of cosmetic repairs.

With fresh paint throughout inside and out, brand-new roof, dual HVAC systems, updated water heater, stainless steel appliances, lighting fixtures, outlets, countertops, and PEX plumbing just to name a few.

I would have talked to them BEFORE cancelling the painter and given them the option of which way to go, but since you already cancelled the painter I would simply charge them prorated rent for the 5 days until the painting is complete and deduct that from their deposit.

And so frustrating that nearly every article in the media was biased towards the tenants' struggles and painted landlords as greedy and unsympathetic. 

Painting, for instance- an amatuer could take their time and paint a house over the course of a couple weeks and do a great job, but a professional crew could do the entire job in a day. 

We painted the outside, cleaned up the backyard, changed the fireplace, changed kitchen countertops and backsplash, added accent wallks.

Maybe Elon's robot will do free repairs, handle collections, touch up paint scratches, plunge toilets, and all the other headaches we deal with in real estate investing. 

What color are you painting your stock cabinets?