To find reliable contractors, ask for recommendations from other investors, real estate agents, or your local hardware store, and check platforms like Angi or Thumbtack for reviews.It’s best to bring a contractor out after the inspection so you have all the details to discuss.

Other areas to check would be local real estate meetups (check BP Events & Meetups, Eventbrite, Meetup.com) and local DC Facebook groups as well.

Here are a few suggestions on how you can maximize the wealth of information available: Check out the blogs and podcasts, or take advantage of the search feature (magnifying glass).

Sit back and collect checks *(or no checks).

I'm going to be checking my BP more regularly.

Check with your lender before you do anything.

Depends on the town’s rules, though, so check that first.Renovation Loophole: Some places let you raise rents or get out of rent control if you do big renovations.

If you are looking at Property Values, use zillow.com, that is what we use to fact check properties values. 

Be sure to: call & verify employment references, request pay stubs to confirm income & check rental history by contacting the previous landlords.Keep the momentum going!

Ask your employer if you can have your pay split up into three deposits, one to investments savings, one to your checking account for personal use on a daily basis, and one to an emergency account you can tap into so you don't have to tap into your investment savings.