(Although, as @John Vietmeyer observed, no one is brining any examples of the 2% rule). 

It's written in to the lease, and it gives me an opportunity for direct observation of how the tenant is treating my property.

@Cheryl Vargas - it may help some, but there's no comparison to going there yourself and walking/driving around the immediate surrounding neighborhood;  honestly, I've learned a lot about the local area just observing the neighbors of the property of interest, and especially how the neighbors keep up their own home   

Listen to what I say, consider it from what might be my biases and self interests, and review it for accuracy vis-a-vis what you know and what you can observe from others. 

Just don't order from them in the fall if you are on a tight schedule as they strictly observe the Jewish holidays during that time and there could(will) be delays.

As a casual observer, I am just not seeing a potential total tax reduction significant enough to justify all the effort.

Go hire one GC on your first project and then observe.

Just because the roof of a house is nearing the end of it life doesn't mean that I should try and strong arm the seller into giving me cash or reducing the price to cover the new roof, he already paid for it the first time, and I should be observant enough when I looked at the property to have noticed it & allowed for it in my offer.I would also have to disagree with the blog's recommendations, at least for me, I live in a smaller market & REI is about people & relationships.  

It was just observations I've had.

Also, the market is very price-sensitive per my observation.