My favorite calls are from prospective clients who have been with another company - they know what matters to them and I know a lot about how the relationship will go, based on what they've experienced with another PMC. 

The 4 units are my favorite and really compound as the rents go up each year, it adds up fast. 

Curious—how are you sourcing contractors to keep quality high and costs in check?

You could also look for a partner/investor to buy you out over time.Regarding PMC's, most of the horror stories are based on:1) Selecting the cheapest PMC2) Unrealistic expectations3) Lack of engagement by owner with PMCBelow is our advice on screening PMCs:Recommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

Also available on all your favorite places to listen and buy music online 😅 

I have been in Cleveland but not my favorite city in Ohio.  

But on that note I do use about 4 different data sources for comp'ing the property's rental price estimate for my clients.

My favorite approach is attending networking events since they offer a great mix of agents and professionals. 

Explore my personal favorites, Set For Life by Scott Trench or The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey, for invaluable financial insights.3.

Your most reliable source for this is a local, experienced investment team.SummaryIf your goal is financial independence, you must invest in cities that meet all the stated requirements, plus an experienced local investment team.