I just bought it in the fall and am trying to complete a bunch of modifications during off-season (e.g. metal roof, certain safety features, treating the deck, possibly updating the fire pit area, etc). 

You'd have to do the research locally, market by market, to determine who the players are.

Over the years, I’ve witnessed both newbie and seasoned investors get misled by various players in the real estate game, from wholesalers to contractors, realtors, property managers.

-Provides peace of mind knowing you own the property outright, which can reduce stress, especially if income fluctuates during slower seasons.

The pref layer is a third party institutional player.  

You can then block out some time in slow season for a refresh and also indicate your plans in your listing.

I think seasonality is starting earlier, but if people are starting this early, ahead of inventory bottoming, we could have a pretty crazy spring. 

If it pays for itself, it provides you with a "free" place to live during the off-season.

Agree, STR are saturated but given the numbers, I expect unsuccessful players will leave the market.  

The PMC I left to start my own PMC had at least 2 "preferred contractors" related to key players in the office so high rates and poor service fell on deaf ears.