You may or may not agree with this change coming, in fact, many will flat deny that this crack-down will even happen.

To screen agents, ask a few basic questions that should immediately tell you if the person you're speaking with really understands real estate investing:1.)

This is hideously expensive.Closing Costs to Sell - ($300k * 3%) + flat fee listing $4500 = $13.5kNet Profit  - $ 20k House 2 : Single Family Home 4BR / 2.5 bath, 2900 Sq Ft Listed Price: $275k (would like to offer $260k)ARV : $420k (~$145sq ft based on comps)Closing Costs - $6k minus 1.5% kickback from buying realtor = total $2.1kFinancing- Assume I could use a conventional loan - 5% interest / 6 months= $6.2k (open to suggestions on financing)HOA - $300Taxes - $600 * 6 months = $3.6kRemodel Costs - $90k - The home has very dated finishings, definitely an elderly persons home.

Aside from providing the basics (ie. listing tool to get the property published to 10+ major sites, scheduling tool to schedule viewings, tenant screening with comprehensive applications -- pulled reports from TransUnion, which include nationwide criminal background checks + credit checks + eviction history, digital lease creation tool, rent collection tool, and maintenance tracking tool), some services also offer your tenants additional capabilities which makes it an easier sell on your end when getting them to transition over (ie. their ability to report on-time rent payments to the credit bureaus; this can create an added incentive for making sure they pay that rent on time).

Knowing how to screen tenants and setting up your process is vital and you can search past threads for that.

For example, if it's buy and hold, there are some quick guidelines you can use to screen the deals that have potential (i.e. 1% rule).

It's probably better not to try as it will create more drama.Tenant screening is cheap to do upfront but potentially costly if not done. 

Ideally flat out own it. 

I've never bothered with an open house for a rental, just show pre-screened tenants as they come that way I don't waste time with unqualified renters.

On a side note, I am 34, currently own my own flat (fully paid) and I am not looking to move.