That is done via placing the highest quality tenant possible, keeping issues to absolute minimum, keeping maintenance and service calls to minimum, because to make it work properties have to operate on cruise-control.

However I like to run my numbers conservatively and account for cap ex, vacancy, maintenance reserves 10/5-7/5-7% respectively.

Ensure you collect a proper security deposit (typically one month's rent in Florida) to cover potential damages.Your plan to increase rent next year makes sense given rising costs (taxes, insurance, and maintenance).

Maintenance at at PM company or one of the big hedge owners like AH4R, leasing at apartment complex will teach you a lot about applications, fraud, leases, collections, evictions. 

Are you looking to sell some/all of your portfolio by minimizing your tax exposure and be more "maintenance free"? 

I like the tub (it wasn't cheap, about 12 grand) but there's not great service options where I live and not sure if I would get it again since I mostly have to take care of it. 

When a home has big maintenance needs, it probably has a lot of little maintenance needs.

A good manager will handle everything from marketing to maintenance and tenant screening, saving you time and stress.Vendors and LandscapingBuilding a team of dependable vendors—like landscaping companies, contractors, and insurance agents—is critical.

However, I did take issue with the tone of the message, especially the part where they told me how they’d be paying rent.For context, there are no outstanding maintenance or repair issues, so I’m unsure what the tenant is referring to. 

@Jay Fayz for SFR (1-4 family) Classifications are mostly opinion-based.Not aware of anyone tracking eviction rates, except Evictions Lab nonprofit that doesn't like landlords.Here's some info that might helpt:---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?