Personal qualities such as 'entrepreneurial' and 'resourceful' and of course 'technologically competent' come to mind... 

@Daniel Lemley I think it is smart to be in a good position financially before you start investing in real estate.  

The investors that get distressed properties and fix them up should be pretty decently insulated from a drop if they have been making smart purchases. 

I’m doing online school, therefore I’m very familiar with technology and responsible with classes, therefore you can count on me.

Stop looking at NOW NOW NOW.. be smart. be analytical be calculated.So in other words this is what you are saying:I need money NOW, so I will do the things that do not work, and cost a lot of money that has a less than 3% success rate to try to make money NOW because I need money now.See how stupid/ retarded that is?

I want to make it work for her but more importantly be a smart investment.

Am I missing out on serious compound interest effects that will hurt me down the line, or is it smart to make sure I have the necessary cash if house hacking is the ultimate short term goal?

Smart staging maximizes the visual appeal of the property at a cost appropriate for the sales price.

Regardless it is getting easier and more cost effective to submeter with modern technology so I think you will see more and more landlords going in that direction.

The E-Myth Revisited - M Gerber (build systems, not just a business) The Millionaire Next Door and also Chip Gaines book, Smart Things I learned Doing Stupid Stuff.