That being said, I'm a huge fan of keeping it simple, so a google sheet with the following info is what I use: Tenant Name, address, rent amount. 

You might feel better after.And yes, mastic over Ditra is a huge no-no (longtime Schluter fan here).Here are some of the takeaways...not rookie mistakes, but learning moments aka opportunities for improvement:-Trust but verify = During any remodel effort, check-in frequently - daily or 2x daily depending on the speed of the work.  

@Assad Oskuei you could apply for one, but again the city isn't usually inclined to grant them - like I said, they're not big fans of basement units.

I also am a huge fan of not signing long-term leases until I feel tenants out a bit - sometimes their true colors come out a few days after closing, and sometimes it’s a few months.

(I am still a big 1031 exchange fan and in fact, I love Delaware Statutory Trusts and manage one.) 

Once we left the home, they locked up, turned off all fans and closed the windows.  

I am not a big fan of the 1 time pet fee up front of 250-300 since I'm assuming it is a one time payment and leaving money on the table. 

I think you're right on about Arizona, big fan of Chandler/Gilbert. 

my wife is not a fan of early mornings, so i have to work around that. 

I am a fan of house hacking, but if that is not an option for some reason, I am a fan of BRRRR (I am really a fan of combining the two).