Well you used a key phrase there- "active" real estate investor.

And try some truth int he listing, highlight attributes not catch-phrases. 

I may have mis phrased Wayze Gretzsky but you get my point.Find cities that are below the median price point(national), growing in population, favorable landlord laws, and are ideally a direct flight from major cities.

Just read a few wall street journal articles for some ideas there.Hand tools or power tools or phrases from architecture or from our sector.

Whatever it cost to do the job (this includes overhead, paying employees, etc) is what was agreed to.I agree with you that this whole issue is based on the phrase "at cost".

This is why you hear the phrase, "Term insurance and invest the rest." 

You could try and work that into the lease if necessary or phrase it as that, just hey I'm doing 6 month preventative maintenance so that way if there's any issues with anything we can fix it now before the leak becomes a burst pipe on a Sunday at 3 AM.

Track more key phrases, so you get alerts to posts in the forums under your preferred criteriaI am always amazed that people decide to get into this business, but are too cheap to spend a few bucks for quality resources.

If I do this, my intention is that things are smooth and drama free for both sides - but of course I need to know that if something goes sideways my "First Position" isn't just a security blanket phrase...but rather, something enforceable and real.

I always keep in mind a phrase I was taught "normal sells" Got it thanks!