Perform the same task in each app to ensure a fair comparison.Load a property with pictures and details.Market that property.See what your marketing looks like from the public's perspective.Submit a fake application to see how easy the process is.Run a credit/screening report on yourself.Enter a maintenance request, assign a vendor, and attach a fake invoice.Enter charges to the tenant's ledger.Enter recurring charges and automatic late fees.Sign documents electronically.Run owner reports.After testing a few apps, one should clearly stand out.

Your experience, while definitely helpful, isn't a direct correlation to the real estate space--a space in which your greatest contributions will not only be your business skill, but your relationships in the industry (brokers, lenders, managers, vendors, the list goes on). 

There are soo many scams out there you need someone to watch out for you and the tenants.Also keep in mind a local manager should also have great vendors relationships that prioritize their work orders. 

We were getting vendors lined up a couple days after closing and I got a call..."

so far, I line up, realstate/wholesaler/one recommended PM/ 2 contractors that work on flipping for other investors/ a few local millwork vendors / tile company and i also set up a meeting with the housing authority for the section 8 program4.

The rest I rely on is a team of managers, contractors, and local repair vendors.

@Keenan Branch this is a great question but I would suggest treating this like any vendor for your market. 

Optimize for assembly and consolidate your vendors/shipments as much as possible.

I finally got them to open a ticket and push it through, only to get an email the next day saying they couldn't find a vendor and that I'm welcome to take care of it myself. 

.)* An offer to send them my vendor list (this one gets HUGE response)* An offer to join Homebot for their homes here or up north* A question of who keeps them up to date on the sales in their neighborhood and an offer to be that person.