I'd also get at least 3 referrals from folks who have properties under their management (but aren't friends with the PM).The biggest questions that stand out to me are:Number of evictions they've had in the past two years (follow up - % of total properties under Mgmt) ...

For prevention, I usually just take basic (free) precautionary measures (i.e. eliminating direct wood to ground contact, eliminating any leaks or standing water, etc) to help reduce the chances of getting them. 

Something that basically guarantees my return on the property, but still gives you an opportunity to move in, the freedom to fix it enough so an FHA loan would work, and the time to then get an FHA loan setup.Forgetting about what's on the postcard for a second, maybe a story like the following would be interesting to me:"I saw you have a duplex on Johnson St, and I'm looking to buy a place to live and raise my family.  

Thank you for standing up for what is right instead of what is financially prudent, if we had more like you there would be less of these bums for the rest of us to deal with.I ran into this one time before, had a bum tenant who was inherited, they played all the games trying to make things as drawn out and painful as possible.

I hope you be around do to see my rise and better yet hopefully I can return the favor ten folds in the future. 

I feel that my tenant (and future buyer in a few weeks) appreciated me for being the stand up kind of guy that would take care of things and not be "greedy," and hope that I built a great solid relationship with him and his family.  

I wish I took pictures.There was a few inches of standing water that must have come from the sink of a drain pipe.

If you want to PM me the address, I can see where it stands.  

On the flip side, I think Denton is a dirty town and I can't stand going there....  

I'll never forget standing up as he passed me during the procession with degree in hand and whispered to me.............."