Another book called "Everything I learned about business - I learned from playing Monopoly" or something to that nature.

This naturally gives you a sense of confidence when asked about the property in question. 

Most 'popcorn' has asbestos, it's toxic and you need a certified contractor.If you go DIY,  mask off the room from the remainder of the house, get a GOOD mask, and use the water+scraping technique to avoid raising dust.BAG the scrapings and take to a HAZARDOUS waste site.

For small projects that are quick-turn in nature the cheapest capital is generally either bank financing or private financing.

Consider how easily a peril or condition can exist and be taken away, if something can be popped up in ten minutes and taken away just as quickly, a landlord will have very little control over the matter.Instead of getting tied up with liability paranoia and trying to micro manage tenants as to allowing something or not, get with your insurance agent, see what they think the risk is in that area, what claims experience they have with such issues, if the exposure is insured and explain the competitive nature in renting to allow your tenants to have a life.If you are adequately insured and have taken reasonable precautions you should be sleeping just fine.

And just like uninformed investors in the stock market, human nature is very much a herd mentality reacting to fear and bad news doing the opposite of what they should be doing.

I am not a very trusting person by nature, I would feel more comfortable if I am involved as much as I can.

I am a project manager / estimator for a general contractor and I am also a certified home inspector.

Mine was 18months of certified letters and unrealistic demands (they wanted me to repurchase the home)...

Mother Nature ... gotta love her!