Contractor who promises every thing might quit you for no reason and don't even bother to return your calls.

Most new investors rarely consider the consequences of actually having to work with people and will not even bother learning their state landlord tenant regulations prior to investing. 

Any way of doing this without bothering a realtor?  

The on-boarding alone is another full time job.As Julie McCoy pointed out, the advantages (marketing, payments, time input, expertise, insurance, legal, website creation/maintenance, SEO, reach) currently far exceed the dependency disadvantages of OTRs.For all that value and time savings, I wouldn’t even bother too much circumventing their communication system to deal outside their box.

I have a few personal and family friends who are agents in my area, so should I even bother?

They will also try to convince you that doing LOs is illegal.I highly recommend you not bother.

Probably not, considering that 10 years ago it was the worse economic crisis in at least 70 years since the Great Depression.BUT, if those who did not understand that it was a FANTASTIC time to invest once the crisis was over, even if the same thing occurs, their risk intolerance will probably steer them to the investments that won't appreciate the most, and that is unfortunate.This is really about education in the long run.People have to add to their inventory of skill sets for an investor the ability to calculate and understand appreciation and other future values.It's the only way to get used to the psychology that things change in the future and where you buy can either capture that change if it's good, or avoid it if it is not.I just can't believe people make a decision on an Investment based on one single calculation for today, usually the Cash on Cash Return, and then completely ignore all future economics.That's like the squirrel that doesn't bother saving his nuts for the winter because he has a lot around in the fall when they dropped off the trees.Good thing squirrels can think about the future value of saving his nuts!

NO".Why bother? 

If they say "Don't bother responding to those" then we are pretty much obligated to not respond to them.

Death doesn't bother me but I know a lot of people are bothered by it.how much does this affect the resale value of the home?