Many of the entities involved in this line of investment are cut throat and liars to the core.

Your construction background and being local to Columbus are huge advantages—they’ll definitely give you an edge in finding properties and keeping rehab costs down compared to others.I’d suggest exploring parts of the city you’re less familiar with.

You can keep it under control a little by keeping the grass constantly cut and nothing laying around the house on the ground..

They will under cut and do whatever to squeeze 3rd party sellers.

They're probably fine with you paying for additional marketing as long as they aren't cut out of the deal.

That move felt risky at first, but the guy ended up calling me three months later, thrilled that those subtle changes in leverage gave him a disctreet edge.

Someone has a gas stove and the new rental only has electricity; someone has a 33 in fridge and only a 30 in fridge fits; counter space is cut for slide in, not drop in; etc.

So as investing partners it makes sense because we will both have extra cash at the same time, we partner up to cut the risk in half + we both specialize in a couple things the other does not in terms of being a rental property owner (e.g. running the books + marketing vs actually fixing things).  

I look at baseline affordability and edge just barely up.

Landlords in illinois for sfh rentals don't provide snow removal or lawn cutting so thats not an issue.