If so, you'll definitely want to drive the neighborhoods and blocks to get a feel of what is really going on.

I have 2 rentals within a couple of blocks from one another and in the same sub-division. 

Turns out this fellow also has 3 other properties that he wants to let go of in the same neighborhood(2 on the same block); 2 duplexes(neighboring lots) and a triplex around the corner.  

Even if I had a rental down my block, I would prefer to have someone else handle the midnight plumbing calls.

You can't go 3 blocks without seeing half a dozen "for rent" signs.Thank you for your tips on finding houses that will cash flow positive, and I completely agree with you.

Getting some bids (for example, it needs the asphalt driveway replaced and a 25' x 4' retaining wall replaced (currently rotten wood, replacing with concrete blocks/stone face) but hard to know exactly how much $ the repairs would cost (and what he's willing to cover). 

@Alex VelazquezDetroit is very block by block.

Either way, even if the job only took an hour, we had to block out 4 hours of our employee's time - we could not have scheduled other maintenance in that window, because we don't know when the utility company will show up until they do.

I recommend you become an expert on those markets, down to the submarket and even block level.

I like the Tellus app since it’s made for landlords so it has options like late fees, auto-pay, blocking partial payments, etc.