I have no affiliation with them whatsoever, but they seem really great and on top of things, and all they work with his investors, so I figure they can help you if anybody.  

I do not think they fall in your lap as you brush your teeth.

The *only* way I could see it making any sense whatsoever is if you, as the property owner, were getting a premium for the long-term rent payment and was turning the property over to an experienced STR operator in such a way that you were benefiting from the overpayment on the LTR while the operator maximized the potential of the property without cost to you. 

A mechanic's lien has no teeth without a lis pendens (an attached lawsuit) and unless you are contacted by a lawyer there's little to be concerned about. 

Like most of these guys, they told me they have no interest in getting back home whatsoever if they can work remotely there.

In fact, we're cash flowing as well as we ever had.On new stuff, it's really tough if you use any debt whatsoever. 

It was like pulling teeth just getting them to recommend someone to insure the property. 

As a newbie I would not suggest this be the type of collateral you cut your teeth on.  

Do you expect your Dentist to drill and fill his/her own teeth (???)

Sadly, 10K in CO wouldn't get me very far if I had 10K to invest in RE so I'd probably seek out different markets where the 10k has more teeth.