How can I protect myself in case I find issues that will eat my margins?  

We don’t want to do property management as it will eat most of our cash flow along with taxes.

Plus the reality is that people need to eat and go to the rest room anyways.

However, in the overall scheme of things, I decided many years ago that accepting credit cards makes life so much easier, that I take them and just eat the fees.

Don't you think the interest and fee the HML will charge will eat up all your cash flow?

Color change with some chemicals just can’t be stopped...if the flooring the contractor installed is showing signs of the chemical eating the floor, then there is an issue.

It seems like Thumbtack and Angieslist are the type of sites that target less price conscious homeowners with smaller tickets and a one-time project.

That eats right into all the cashflows, especially at cheaper pro

So I’m left with a few options: -Stay and eat the cost of commuting-Move in a more expensive apartment or home to rent-or use my VA Loan to buy a property to live in with 0% down.

That said, I get asked a lot to be partners with people that have not been in the business just so they can get a loan and have someone experienced in the drivers eat to run the asset.