All are necessary, honestly we did our direct book site to piggy back off VRBO, air and a local site we use. 90% of it is repeat bookings that like to communicate with us through that direct book site vs some protected site like air.we send out a mass email to all our guests using hostfully email capture and offer 5% off the lowest direct booking price which still nets us more than we get for the same booking through the platforms.we do all of it, direct, local and the platforms, we continue to have good success and our clients/guests love it.as far as the price for the website development- to be honest we had a great year one year and needed a write off so that was a factor as well. bottom line is people find you in so many ways, we don't want to eliminate any of them.

Based on your comments or fears about tenants one of the options that you should eliminate is renting then self managing. 

If you understand screening you eliminate the problems of them not paying their part or higher maintenance.

That would eliminate my current ~$1100 monthly cost of living renting and pay for the house itself with rental income 

Truthfully, my sights are set more on eliminating my expenses and living more frugally in the next few years than they are set on becoming some sort of millionaire investor—but I think that if my first deals are successful, I can definitely see myself wanting to take on real estate as a serious career pursuit a little further down the road.

If the city can eliminate an STR that has operated legally for 23 years, it certainly can change the rules to further restrict/limit STRs. 

Put in about $25k of improvements, to include 2 unit rehabs, new roof (mostly covered by insurance) new paint, and eliminated one unit.

With that we can eliminate our utility costs which increases our bottom line and adds value to the building.

My wife and I add value by eliminating the obvious problems, the need of clean-up, repairs and updates.

Cities around here are slow to implement the new "modern city" changes you see in other places, like allowing ADUs and eliminating parking requirements.