feel stupid here but I cannot even find the Pros Files area. unless it's just the regular Files area. 

I'm a bit of a broken record trying to get some of my investors (and regular buyers) to look at homes with a basement apartment or carriage house.

In my line of work we look for things that will need to be replaced in business or property regularly so I was curious on how you viewed that expense.

I do have to say they probably gave me a much harder time on the inspections than regular GC's would have had.    

Track all of the expenses and income that you are responsible for in some sort of report that you can review regularly with people you trust and try to reduce expenses and increase income.  

It means no background or credit check and it is possible you are renting to someone with a totally false identity.

They could rent out an investment property to a regular tenant but they wouldn't be guaranteed 100% vacancy and a responsible party to look after the property. 

Currently looking for CARPENTERS, ELECTRICIANS, PLUMBERS, ROOFERS, DEMOLITION MEN, WROUGHT IRON WELDERS, TUCK POINTING / SIDING, PAINTERS, GRANITE, CONCRETE, IN GROUND POOL PERSON, CLEANING/DETAILING PERSON, ROOFERS (regular and wood) and possibly some others I'm missing.  

@Brad Fausett Well, I think regular property inspections and getting a lawyer on the case as soon as issues emerged might have helped the situation.

This is an easy answer for me, since in a way, I start over on a regular basis.If I had nothing, and this includes no knowledge, I would start by:1 - learning: A - How money works, B - How to analyze markets (as in zipcodes), and how to then find Micro-Markets2 - Then, I would develop a plan of investing based on the two Core Knowledge Bases above.3 - Next, I find my money, as in cash partners and credit partners, all to be implemented on a project by project basis.4 - Now, I camp out in the market(s) I found in step 1, and invest following the plan I developed in Step 2