Jordan told us last year she manages around 200 units, and then she signed up to manage 19 of mine, so she is well over 200 units which is likely too many for a single person, but hiring more people and managing a team requires a different skillset than just being a property manager, I'm not sure Jordan has the skillset to run a team of people or manage tasks effectively but I'm trying to be patient with her since my units are all full now that I left Mcdonnell.Milltown Realty seemed to have a good management structure in place, they limit the number of units each property manager is responsible for and utilize a team approach for maintenance and other items.

If you do not sign or give them grief, they just do not accept the contract.After you did all the tasks above, then they send the contract to the selling bank for signature. 

I prefer to do tasks once, learn the process, buy the materials (on rentals) then fix it.

Maybe annually flush 5 gallons (a 5 minute task) and maybe at 5 years replace the anode with an electric anode (15 minutes if you have quality impact wrench, I would not do it without quality impact wrench).  

Not hacks exactly, yours were great....but I believe that the two most important are 1) Being super clean, you almost can't be clean enough, 2) Be unique.....Set yourself apart from the competition.Beyond that, just be fairly priced (esp on cleaning) and limit the extra charges, I always just pass when the fees start to add up....

But, you need to have a well marketed, unique property.  

You need to create a UNIQUE value proposition, and in the world of STRs, that not only comes from many areas: namely the property's ability to capture attention on the platform and the guest experience from response times to questions or booking confirmations, to comfort of mattress and towels, to enough toilet paper being on site, through to checkout requirements.

First, doubling NOI is not an easy task unless the property you bought was VERY distressed or you're going to hold it for 15 years.Second, this idea ignores the fact that cap rates fluctuate.

But generally speaking, investment properties require a minimum of 15-20% down and sometimes 25% for first time investors or tricky/unique scenarios.

Each area has unique characteristics, and I'd be more than happy to give you insights into neighborhoods that might align better with what you're looking for.