I have an extensive background in marketing so I can definitely provide value in that area of interest.

Do you provide the background check report for a prospective tenant to the owner?  

For those of you investors that do not have a construction background, like me, how do you quickly estimate the costs? 

Sounds like you've got a solid plan for your REI strategy and your background at REIS will no doubt put you ahead of the game. 

First, let me quickly give you some background.

This is a 3/2 and 2/1 duplex in a very up and coming area (can even see project in background of photo).

Do you just tell the tenant that you have a space they can live on the cheap, no credit check, no background check, LL can raise rent whenever he/she wants, and you need to leave with 30day notice?

There’s a big difference between self managing your rental (finding tenants, background checks, leases, collecting rent, coordinating issues, etc.) and fixing the mechanical problems that come up.

Never paid anything except an agent's commission for a lead, never paid for a background check, never paid to trace a skip.

So here's some background: I work for appliance company in Baltimore md so I'm constantly in and out of neighborhoods.