Negotiating favorable terms is both an art and a science, and in real estate, it's a critical skill that can make or break a deal.

I even have my renters sign a liability waiver upon arrival, which I never had one person refuse to sign one yet.  

With your background in lease management and site selection, that could be a natural next step.Regarding STRs, I can understand the hesitation—accurate expense tracking is critical, and not having that data can make evaluating deals frustrating.

The later is critical to protect your investment.

Keeping contemporaneous records is critical.

I went from barely breaking even to walking away with a very comfortable profit.This experience taught me two critical lessons:Never give up when the situation looks bleak.

It’s a great reminder to trust your own due diligence and not let others make critical decisions for you, like hiring a property manager.For future investments, building a trusted team and maintaining direct oversight is key, even with remote deals.

This is critical for protecting yourself, your property, and your neighborhood.Here’s why:Safety Concerns:Skipping checks could allow someone with a serious criminal history—like a sex offender or violent felon—into your property.

Detroit is very much a block-by-block city, so having local knowledge is absolutely critical.

Prioritize tackling critical issues and beefing up security to keep your property safe and sound.