this is exceptionally difficult to do. 

That is the question I am having a difficult time answering.

Although some investors don't have LLCs so it would be difficult to tell if it's owned by a primary homeowner vs an investor.

Is it really difficult to start?

Those that respond “$0” or something ridiculous, you can request income documentation from them to justify.Don’t be afraid to share with them how much your property taxes & Insurance increased and that YOU cannot afford to absorb them.ALWAYS get an increase or something of value annually when rents are increasing or tenants will start thinking they should never have an increase, making future increases that much more difficult to negotiate.

Outside of this, it’s been difficult to even figure out where to find reliable contractors in my area.

Assuming adding a vent isn't unduly difficult, i.e. the dryer being in an interior room far from an exterior wall and/or no good access to run dryer pipe, I would put it in on my own.

RE is a get rich slow game and there are increasing number of people talking about how difficult it is to retire from your day job even with large numbers of rentals because cash flow is thin.On the one hand there is the Small But Mighty portfolio mentality which I believe is a book in the BP store by Chad Carson.

Once you do this conversion it will be difficult to change it back to a traditional long-term rental. 

Even though the numbers may be different or some strategies may be more difficult to execute today it is still great to learn what options are out there.