And how much can I expect to spend on this process?

I just want to make sure we are dividing out the cash flow we can spend versus the cash flow we should save.

Sure, you are going to be getting/saving the Realtor commision, but in order to do that, you need to spend the investment into the Real Estate supplies that get you there.Thanks, I am certainly aware of the MLS benefits and agree. 

A tax account ensures nothing is accidentally spent elsewhere, and a marketing account makes sure lead generation is always prioritized.From a credit perspective, connecting credit cards to these accounts on autopay helps you manage spending responsibly while playing the credit game.

Spend the time now reading and learning so you will be ready when you have the down payment for your house hack.

Would you rather spend a half an hour on a phone call, and under $200 to fix a small issue now, or the other end you people being slum lords and not handling YOUR responsibilities in owning, renting properties????

If you are uncertain about any of this I would recommend spending a little on a CPA that understands RE investing.

I'm sure this was not comfortable or fun to spend this money for the fixes but the fact that you were able to find a way to do so and stay in the game is really a feat so kudos there!

& track my job costs against each category so I can compare my budget vs actuals and calculate the variances.For example:Electrical Budget: $4,000Electrical Actual: $6,300Variance: +$2,300This process is more tedious because you have to breakdown each invoice or receipt and allocate the costs to each Category, but it really helps you understand where you are spending your money and why you went over budget.Otherwise, it sounds like you are having trouble measuring employee productivity?  

Spend some time talking to investors, asking for names, talk to a lot of banks.