Implementing the knowledge from books and networking will definitely get you ahead of most 

That is all you need.It goes like this:6/20/2021    Deposit           Rental Income        10,5006/21/2021    Deposit           Washing Machine   100.256/22/2021   Acme Painting  Repairs                                 800That is all you need with the exception you can have a column for check numbers and put a total on the bottom.When you are finished your debits and credits should be exactly the same as your bank statement and that is how you keep your books accurate-to-the-penny.Personally, I would never do business with an accountant because accountants don't have the stringent training a CPA has.

This brings up the importance of networking with local investors to see what they are implementing in their business and what has been working for them this past year.

The unlicensed contractors could care less and implement stuff lying around you’ll never see (thinner pipe, wiring, loose connections that move from vibrations such as walking, etc). 

My wife and I are implementing a buy and hold strategy, however, we have considered a 1039 exchange within the next 4-5 years for an apartment building or a large multifamily property which is why I concern myself with the potential value impact of tearing out the asphalt.My thoughts are that since the southern driveway which is in terrible condition, opens up to a dirt road, and the other houses on that dirt road have gravel driveways, that I could rip out the asphalt on that side of the house, replace with gravel, and it would blend in with the houses behind me.Does that sound logical or would it still be of concern to add gravel when the rest of the neighborhood (excluding the houses behind me) retains asphalt.

There must be a way I can present a workable and acceptable arrangement to implement this. 

While it is unpopular to many, I am still a believer in our education system and its what you take from it and there are degrees in real estate that can teach a lot about commercial real estate and give a very good foundation which can lead you in implementing what you learned into the day-to-day of commercial real estate.

This is especially the case if you are planning on implementing a creative real estate investing strategy.

The lender will probably not object, since it will assume the seller has implemented an estate planning device.

I'd be shocked if 90% of realtors have ever seen or read IRC or have a clue if it is implemented in their area and to what extent or with what changes.