Many investors will do a duplex, make one side a long term rental while the other side performs as a short term rental. 

1) Rarely paying asking price or even "market price" for a property.2) Understanding how they may be able to reposition a poorly managed property for increased cashflow and value.3) Looking for creative financing, so they don't have to deal with a bank for a purchase loan.4) Understanding ROI, Cash-on-Cash, NOI, etc. and using those numbers to determine HOW MUCH they should offer on a property to meet their taget performance numbers.Funny, appropriate, recent interaction with a plumbing company.

So the performance here is really on me.Based on the opinions and realization I’m now leaning towards a middle of the road approach - keeping the SoCal room rental house, get that to market rates (~6% ROE) and 1031 the mountain houses.

Would love to know who else in this post owns a STR in north GA and how they are performing. 

If the buyer has proof of completing multiple projects and their real estate agent has a documented business history they are probably not wasting their time playing a game about a POF as failing to perform is just a waste of everyone's time (may have legal fees incurred as well).If it's an unknown newly formed LLC, an offer with minimal cash to escrow, with a shady attorney and realtor, I'd then be taking a hard look at proof of funds.

Next you want to form an LLC that will serve as the management company for your LLC and perform duties including rent collections and sign all contracts on behalf of the business.

We've helped a lot of our members trouble shoot and make minor tweaks to their properties to improve the performance.

I would also have a pre and post plumbing test performed.

If it continues to perform this well we don't see the need to hire an appointment setter... saves a ton of headache as the position is definitely high turnover.Do y'all think a mortgage brokerage, hard money lender, or wholesaling company could benefit from a system like this?

The setting in which the experience was gained plays a role in determining what constitutes a qualified and responsible person and what types of experience documentation may be acceptable.It goes on to list pretty much anybody related to construction fields, including homeowners you perform work for.