Anyone reading this thread should make it a point to read your state's real estate contract practice book or at minimum pull a list of all C.A.R. forms from the internet and read the title of each form and pick a few to read line by line to begin understanding the contract language. 

Does it mean this strategy is best if you are in close proximity and take on more tasks yourself?

Just wondering if there are good internet guides out there to help new investors understand steps in renovations and lay out scopes of work and materials needed so we don't miss anything?  

Like you said, it's harder to find a deal on internet posting now. 

It's worth reaching out to Corporate Housing Groups (most HR Departments at large employers have this division as well as Relocation Companies that you can find via an internet search) to offer your property as a 30-day furnished rental.

That being said, I'm looking for virtual assistants to vet lists and do some other small administrative tasks and perhaps eventually start cold calling.

That itself is no easy task for someone without experience.

Who pays for maintenance is determined by the written contract between parties, not a list on the internet.

Cleaning and inspection tasks are auto created in Breezeway based on check out dates and assigned to my cleaners so they can see it in their Breezeway account.I could make this simpler by removing either Hostfully or Hospitable since they offer a lot of overlap features.

I know that one of the first tasks is to obtain a licensing for rentals in the city.