You ever in Austin Tx hit me up, I’ll help make sure you maximize your Trip.

I can see myself using a service like this if I cross the 50 unit mark and if I want to avoid costs on hiring a staff on constantly driving over and showing the property.I would probably add some additional controls and keep a camera monitor in the vacant house to make sure that the prospective tenant is not trashing the place or using the vacant bedroom for a "30min quickie" with a friend, ;)Reminds me of the Robocop-2 movie from 1990 and their vision of the future, when the character visits his house for sale, an automated kiosk guides through him through the house without an agent.

However, if the purpose of the trip was for improvements, you must recover that expense as part of the improvement and its depreciation.You have two choices on how to deduct travel expenses: the actual expenses or the standard mileage rate.

Some landlords report failing these if a thread in the carpet is up (it's a "tripping" hazard).  

I'll be evaluating over a dozen properties on this coming trip so I've got some work to do!

Thanks guys I feel way better about my pathetic 1hr trip now lol!

My advice would be, if you can, make a trip out, even if if just for a few days to drive around and see if you get a gut feeling for or against any of the areas.Cheers!

I needed some paint done in some rooms of the house, a vent in a bathroom put in place, and someone to check the AC.The air conditioning system would trip the breaker about every 4 or 5 days or so.  

I'm still learning but am hoping to make a trip out there sometime later this year for work and pleasure. 

You could do this through either BiggerPockets or taking a trip out there when their local REIA is meeting and asking around there.