Brandon Turner outlined this method in one of the older podcasts and there are previous posts in the forums.  

(G) Acceptable forms of payment of Rent (including Additional Rent) are ___ personal check, ___ cashier’s check, ___ bank check, ___ money order, and ___ the following online/ACH payment methods ____________________.

Suggestions like driving by the houses weekly are silly, such trips serve no legitimate business purpose. 

An appraisal fee in advance for an actual appraisal is legitimate, but you can find lenders that don't require appraisals and don't charge appraisal fees.

And many of my clients are taking on the BRRRR method. 

Find Brandon's videos on YouTube for the "four square" method of analyzing homes and practice.

Or are there other methods you’d recommend that could align better with my goals?

Instead of focusing on move-in-ready rentals, consider fixing up a cheaper property (BRRRR method) to add value and boost cash flow.

I think this is the method I would like to go as it fits in line with what I envisioned. 

I wasn’t trying to be long winded, with too much detail, in my initial post but I actually did this method on a fix and flip.