I have a small cadre of people who I keep in my pocket to see what they're up to and what they have to say (you're in the cadre, btw).

.* Is this enough to file suit in small claims court? 

A lot harder to get significant cash flow with those compared to when rates were 3%.Small to mid sized multifamily you can still get cash flow for turnkey stuff with a 20-25% down payment in C and some B areas.

I just wanted to share a little bit about the area, because I feel it flies way under the radar for many investors due to it being small and outside of the city. 

Quote from @Daniel Tanasa: Another option is to get a small cash out refinance from the house you plan on fixing up, if is in financeable condition, and use that to fix it up, while still cash flowing.

One small step forward each day!

As for being worse for small landlords that's a different story and going to be a slippery slope. 

Factors that affect hourly rate Job complexity: More complex jobs may cost more.Handyman's experience: Less experienced handymen may charge less.Region: Some regions have higher labor rates.Minimum charge: Some handymen may charge a minimum fee for small jobs.Mileage: Some handymen may charge a mileage fee for jobs outside their service area.What to expect to payA handyman may charge between $35 and $80 per hour.

Maybe you would spend the time to recover such a small amount but should you?

Start small, evaluate results, and adjust gradually.