So the added expense of a high end camera is not real worth it for us.The phone is compact, always fully charged, always with me & it does take excellent hi res pics that I can enlarge on it & has great video.

We also do a little bit of back end work such as data entry, converting JPEG files to word, etc etc.I was on a call with a BiggerPockets member this morning and he mentioned he hired a VA who is pulling list for him from county records that he is planning to mail on.

Do you research the special proceedings file yourself or hire a paralegal?

I would always prefer to do/hire out the work myself to insure its done well.....sellers can't be trusted!

@Alfredo GonzalezC  all of the big brokerages will generally hire anyone.  

If your goal is to own the property but have essentially no day-to-day involvement in the business of the vacation rental -- you don't talk to potential guests, you don't maintain the calendar, you don't coordinate housekeeping -- hire a real legal licensed vacation rental manager.  

I no longer have the "9-5" but I still do freelance work and consulting to supplement my income.

I would like to build up my rolodex - i'm looking to meet with people who I could hire as part of our "Crew" (handymen, contractors, inspectors, and general hands on repair and mgmt people). 

I'm willing to work in any area because I want to learn every area: marketing for sellers, talking with sellers (have done some on my own), evaluate property (I have a Realtor to help me with that), working on the actual rehab (want to learn materials, costs, how to hire the right labor, how to know what a property needs and be able to correctly estimate it on the spot, etc.), learn how to negotiate, deal with, and talk to money people, municipalities, attorneys (I have a small relationship with a closing attorney in Greensboro) and other professionals in the business.

You can't hire someone and get it done for $170k, it will cost  more than that.