Updated the deck as it was old and rooted.

I have found that VRBO customer service is useless, can't solve my problems and they are way more expensive (8% compared to airbnb 3%) VRBO owes me alittle over 1k in past rents and they blame the root cause that my w 9 doesn't match IRS records but no one can seem to tell me how or what field.

You go tilt at your windmills Jim, I'll stay rooted in the real world.At least you downgraded me from a Nazi to regular ole KKK.

As much as possible I'd recommend getting really clear on your goals in life and how real estate fits into those, and then iterate from there.If you are buying at a distance (specifically you're not moving from house to house and collecting houses as you go) then it would be a great simplifying factor to buyer AN asset or two with many doors, but there are other ways you could structure it so that small multis are the way to go.So, back to the root . . . what do you want to accomplish in life, and what role does real estate investing play in that?

Roots can damage water and sewer and the property itself 8.

Well with the scope they found a small root growing through the line about halfway to the main city connect.

If the house is so old that it has ancient pipes that have never been serviced, or massive trees all around the house that could have roots burrowing into them, etc, etc.

I'm rooting for you to get out of the rat race soon!!

Vines are easy to remove unless woody ones- cut back, pull up roots. wire brush the roots, maybe power wash to clean up mortar. 

@Alicia Marks funniest and also most disturbing - didn't know at the time but a tree root was blocking our sewer line at our duplex.