Pay or quits should be posted on the door,, take a photo,, I personally tape it right over the door lock so If I return I know they got the notice because it had to be removed to unlock the door to enter, I don't put it under the door..Email for notices is not always permitted for proper notice ,so check your state laws on that.  

Well, I've had a few handymen give me quotes who were referred (mainly from selling agents) and their project quotes were ridiculously high.I also happened to work with both handymen when I had first hired them; partially because I had to unlock the place for them and partially because I wanted to learn how to do the repairs myself.

We REALLY like it because I can lock or unlock the door remotely (if they forget to lock it after checking out) and I can add or delete codes remotely.

If you want to have both, you could leave a key inside the unit (key the knob and deadbolt the same), lock only with the deadbolt between guests, unlock for them remotely and then have the guests use the key after check-in...but you're likely ok.

I'm thinking of refinancing in order to unlock some cash.

Just taking a bite of the deal for what..........to lock and unlock the doors?

We unlock the door, and open in 3 inches - and the door chain is across the door.

If we were able, I would use one of those electronic lockboxes instead - the type where the guest punches in a code and then the door unlocks, rather than having a physical key - but it wasn't in our budget.Another key hire for renting from a distance hire would be a local handyman to handle any emergencies that come up while guests are staying there.

When you need to get in, just unlock the hasp, hing it open so you can insert your key and get your money. 

Bill hit on it in his above response when he said that understanding zoning, (re-)development, political issues, rehabbing, marketing, etc, is the key to unlocking intrinsic value of real estate when the intrinsic value is not already equal to the market value...which in many cases it already is.And that kind of stuff you're not going to learn from reading an eBook or a full book...that's the kind of stuff you learn by doing deals and spending years gaining experience "in the field"...