Both of you are completely correct that Reputation is vitally important and it cannot be bought or produced with a shiny new product (house).

Currently in the process of learning how to own rental properties to produce monthly cash flow.

We did a quote with Arcana last week on two properties. that is a little more than 1/2 of what I am paying with my current provider and actually any vacant property produced I have used and I have worked with 2 of the top providers in the country over the past 10 years.  

Matt not only guided me through the daunting process of syndication, but he talked me through some of my biggest fears and doubts.The rental numbers look healthy, but the major appeal of this property is the value - add opportunity.

Margins are tight and milk doesn't pay to produce, I know a lot of farms maxing out their financing as well as investors dumping money into the larger dairys to keep them afloat.

They WANT your ongoing expenses to be low, and your cash flow healthy, so that you'll buy more properties from them. 

Disney, for example, produces movies that parents can trust to be suitable for their young children.

No one can produce the videos of my robots I have.

The ultimate goal is to own a small portfolio of around 10 homes (current goal of 1 a year) that will produce good cash flow and leave me with a nice retirement plan.

There's nothing wrong with that deal, for your first that's a nice level of return, healthy challenge with renos & conversions, & not getting yourself too in over your head.If you're hiring a property management company for something that's 2-unit or less it's definitely going to be a bit more challenging from a cash flow perspective, that's just reality.