For owners with a small portfolio (1-3 STR), how did you decide between self management vs hiring a vacation rental company?

Not just DSCR or Agency loans.

The participants should contact a knowledgable insurance agency specializing in investment real estate.The only person or entity needing to execute documents for a future refinance or sale is the buyer.  

I'm not going to through out names, but there are companies that only take $500 at closing from an agent. 

We discussed this in an earlier post.Obviously, if loans are being made without any provision in the Operating Agreement, it’s time to get in touch with your State Securities Protection Division - usually a part of the State Attorney General Consumer Protection Agency.

Raising money is all about marketing and sales (not real estate specific) so either hire marketing agency and read sales books, or hop on some LinkedIn courses on marketing and sales.Not sure the legal structure to use: talk to accountants and attorneys.Need deal flow: talk to brokers and go to a lot of networking events.Lending terms: start calling banks and loan brokers.From there, it is all risk mitigation. 

Figure out a question set that helps dive into their expertise as investor-friendly agents, ask about their experience in the investment real estate space, and have them send you a few properties that could meet your goals to show that they can provide quality properties for your to analyze (hint: this is also good to see if they overpromised on their market [ex - Raleigh for cash flow]).Also with the new lawsuit, any agent that knows what they're doing will require you to sign an agency agreement prior to viewing a home.

Does anyone have a recommendation of a national collection agency that is effective?

It’s not hard on a new construction to set those up as long as you don’t need meters from your utility or water company. 

The question you want to ask the other side is if they are representing the seller or themselves.An attorney or agent that doesn't understand "agency" should get 7 lashes with a wet spaghetti noodle.A wholesaler usually is not going to own the property he is trying to sell.