Around here, it's typically a half a month to a month's rent for a PM to fill a vacancy.Take it one step further, and include a payment of, say, 3% to the agent if the tenant buyer does choose to exercise the option.

Plus I have more exit strategy options.Choice is ultimatley up to each individual investor on what types of portfolios they choose to operate.

Place is unoccupied at the moment, city assessor's site lists it at 60k, other homes in the area have sold at that over the last 5 years.Say I buy the place for cash and replace the roof and paint the exterior (which it desperately needs).

I usually check the bigger ticket items: Foundation, Furnaces, roof, Electric, plumbing, siding/paint.2.

You won't be doing agreements that circumvent foreclosure laws, present title issues, cause insurance snafus or get hammered under Dodd-Frank, but you can go any direction you choose to. 

There are several to choose from.Check it out: http://store.biggerpockets.com/ :cool:

But again, rent, amenities, location, new paint, etc. go further than the efficiency of their gas pak.Don't get me wrong, I routinely install thermal windows or storms and blow in attic insulation, but that's more to KEEP good tenants once I find them (with lower utility bills they're more likely to pay me).But that's just my $0.02.Let us know how your own Green Experiment works in the actual field.

Once again depending on your needs and time contraints be careful on how you choose.

The money making upgrades are kitchens, at least 1 nice bathroom, AC, modern windows, and paint.

If you give the tenant the option to drop-off check at a business location with hours and they choose to mail, then that's the risk the tenants take and the judge will take your side.