How commonplace is this, and what type of experience and requirements are necessary to make this transition?

This can help you down the road when transitioning to property management specific software.

I transitioned form lockboxes to Kwikset locks after, one cleaner changed the code but forgot what it was, one guest somehow broke the lockbox, and later I saw evidence of people trying to get in (luckily without success).

To help me transition into real estate I am looking for jobs with property management companies so I can earn a steady income while I continue to save up and purchase my first multifamily investment property by the end of the year.

It is a transitional area that is improving. 

So I've been thinking of executing this strategy...buying an REO with hard money and transitioning to the Brrr strategy, refinancing within a year, pay the hard money guy back and hold the property as it is rented.Has anyone executed this strategy?

I like you would rather work with the tenants and make the transition as smooth as possible but sometimes you have no choice but to take the more difficult path. 

If you own SFR in a neighborhood that transitions from being predominantly rentals to predominantly owner-occupied you can get a step change in valuation.  

Washington state seems like a good place to make this transition, and I'm interested in connecting with professionals and investors that are knowledgable about the market there.

If there's no occupancy changes, there may be just minimal costs to transition to multi-tenant space depending on the utility situation in the building.- Expected rental per unit for self-storage and also corresponding vacancy for those spaces-I'm familiar with all the construction in town.