You can read all you want, but you just don't know until you are in the middle of the process (wanting to cry, pull your hair out, sweating profusely because it is phoenix in the summertime and 116 degrees and what were you thinking flipping a house?!)

Ok, this is going to be a hair off topic here but I will try to equip with the short-short version (crash course). 

You can cut your own hair, but you'll probably have less success in the dating world.Agents probably still sell 95-98% of the real estate.Plenty of people think they're experts that go at it alone, but there is plenty of value using a realtor. 

motivate' seminar attendees to "be their own boss", "escape the rat race", and "take control of their life" (with requisite slideshow of people enjoying leisure activities that YOU TOO can enjoy) all while belittling those who (ironically) choose the path of fiscal responsibility.Do they parade cardboard cutouts of the pretty faces from the teevee shows on the stage while the excessively tanned guy with pretty hair does his best Glengarry Glen Ross and tells you what a loser you are if you don't fork over the 40k?

People are so well off as “poor” they sell their food stamps, section 8 while spending 300$ a month on hair and nails.

No matter what, you will have to buy special products or pay for a professional service to get the smell/hair out of the unit when you go to turn it.

You could comb through each lease and make sure no one has broken any of the terms.

as well as their computers, hair dryers, dishwasher..

Its best to shop for a lender who's competent at hair ball closings. 

@Carl Fischer - thank you for the mention@Katie Lepore - Section 199A most likely will not apply to casual landlords@Michelle Eisenberg - H&RB are just like any chain business: auto shops, hair salons, large clinics etc.