It's why you don't carve out and capitalize a portion of each monthly HOA fee for betterments, restorations, and adaptations to common areas. 

You psychologically adapt to that level because in your head, you are a B student.So please stop with the excuse of my market is competitive... and people.. stop encouraging such believes.

At the end of the day, those who can adapt will succeed.

As for you or me, we just need to adapt to the new reality... 

The forward planning and ability to adapt to that first closed door was the key to your success. 

Depending on your returns and how recent any major work has been done, it is possible to adapt to the needs of the specific property (i.e. if the plumbing, HVAC, roof, etc. was all done in the last year or two you can focus more heavily on cashflowing into the next property and setting aside a smaller portion as an insurance policy for the next big problems).

I solder in MPT adapters for the hot and cold lines -- they currently cost $1.58 each at the Big Orange Retail Giant.

Traditional brokerages should avoid being complacent so as not to be completely blindsided, the way the hubris of other industry leaders kept them from thinking they needed to adapt and ultimately caused them to become anachronisms.

A lot of the gas lines in those old homes are 1/2" but I find you can get away with a 3/4" adapter and 3/4" hose from the valve to the heater - no cold spots, just consistent hot water PM me and I'll hook you up with my contacts.

If you have a newer model smart phone, you can buy a lens adapter for your phone that will give you a wide angle feature.