I have access to some funds from my 401k, about $3000, and I'm wondering if that's a realistic amount of money to start out with.

We’re seriously looking into our first rental property (hoping to put in an offer next week once we have financing together). It’s a duplex with rents under market value.
How do we go about raising rents to market? Do...

I would also suggest joining your local REAI (real estate investment association) For a very modest membership fee you get access to a wealth of education and networking.Just some suggestions.Good luck

The advantage is the professional touch to acquiring new tenants.

You just have access to cash anytime w/ heloc.

You shows your serious, you have access to all kinds of useful tools, and you can go back and replay any webinars.

As we look to acquire our first property together, I wanted to know if anyone had tips or suggestions on how we can go about to get our next property.  

If not, you need to consider the time involved with obtaining estimates, reviews, scheduling, providing access, handling issues that come up (like new water heater required  we remove the entire door and frame for access as they are wider now).   

What is the best way to get this property sold, in the least amount of time, with limited access to the house because of the tenant?

The reason most people shy away from it is that it takes a great deal of knowledge and expertise they lack to develop, not to mention access to a great deal of long-term capital.Unless you were doing the actual blue collar work, you could not make such a project work as it is too small to afford to hire such work done.