For starters, you should have in your lease that any repair request must be in writing, and will be attended to as soon as possible.

It is a great starter house and I would advertise it that way. 

I may eventually sell the properties, but for now they feel like blue chips in the the sense that they should consistently produce a nice bit of monthly income and I can still tap into their equity and make starter deals with cash.

Ryan, saying a landlord that includes utilities in the rents = slumlord is ridiculous.The logistics with the utility company would be a royal pain, for starters.  

I like to provide things like a new shower curtain liner, a starter bottle of certain cleaners you may want them to use.

Perhaps you could market it for college students or as some kind of starter apartment? 

When a starter home costs 500K+, ($300/sq ft for a 50s cracker box) renting is actually a better option.

The house was my starter home and I refi before the crash. 

The tenant is a non starter in my view.

My wife and I looked over Buildium and Cozy last night as a starter.