Occasionally someone asks us if we will do a lease, but when they realize we won't be raising the rent during the first year (never have) and not likely to raise it in year two or three either, they are satisfied.  

In our state the offender has 8 days to make good on the funds (from when you notify them).Our leases are well written and we treat our tenants with respect but occasionally one of them mistakes kindness with weakness.Yeah, we know the rules.We typically would serve on the 11th but this tenant gamed us a bit by paying on the 9th and the check wasn't returned to us until the 25th.

As others have said, request a walk-through with the landlord prior to move-out.Commonly overlooked spots: damage behind doors, kitchen cupboards not wiped clean and occasionally items left in the deep reaches of the cupboards, refrigerator seal folds not clean, window tracks not clean, stove top dirty underneath (most lift up), range bottom drawer dirty and/or items left inside, door stoppers missing, loose towel rods, dusty light fixtures, plumbing fixtures not entirely clean, outside lights and mailbox dirty, tops of door trim and tops of baseboard dirty, light switches dirty, refrigerator drip pan dirty and back of refrigerator dusty.BTW, to clean the range burner bowls, soak them overnight in ammonia and then scrub.

The boyfriend who at lease signing only stayed "occasionally" was there anytime I drove by or stopped to inspect.

Al,In our student rentals, incoming, and occasionally outgoing, tenants frequently need to store their belongings before their lease comes into effect.  

I pay a small monthly subscription (I think it's $35 for the "platinum membership") and am very satisfied with the occasional guidance they've given me.I talk to a lot of people who are unsatisfied with their SDIRAs, but they all have expensive custodians who must approve every investment and by the time they get approval the deal opportunity is gone.  

Other than that, there is not much hands on work on the rentals other than occasional repair work.

I want to concentrate more on my own investing (buy/flip or buy/hold), and feel that a RE license may give me an advantage at this time.Reasons for getting my license:1) Run my own comps (MLS access) when looking at off market properties that I might want to purchase.2) Direct access (lockbox) for MLS properties that I want to look at.3) Collect referral fees for listings referred to other agents.4) List an occasional property or act as buyer's agent for people I know.Does anyone know any specific brokers in the Phoenix area that they would recommend?

However, even with good screening habits, the occasional bad apple will inevitably slip through.

I'll update the thread occasionally and certainly when the property reaches a deal with someone.