The ones who are doing well against these big companies are professional, well-advertised, and communicative.

I think some of it is just bad agents and for some they lack good communication skills. 

I have huge issues with a borrower that won’t communicate since there is never a good reason for that.

I want to be respectful of local custom and not create tension with an otherwise responsive agent, yet it's personally maddening as I recently found out 3 days after a verbal offer was sent that was already under contract that same day my offer was communicated, yet that was never communicated to me for 3 days and only after I insisted my agent inquire on status.

A plus would be the ability to communicate with the cleaning team.

I definitely educate myself through many different channels, thanks for the advice. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed the podcast as well as the information shared on the YouTube channel.

@David Petikyan As a licensed Real Estate Salesperson (At least in TX) you are required to upon initial communication with a lead, client, or prospective buyer/seller provide a Consumer Protection Notice and Information About Brokerage Services...

Tell them you work for a property management company , makes communications /disputes a whole lot easier .

Here's the short answer:Pull down the ceiling in the downstairs unit.Add insulation to the joist bays (Roxsul is best)Run resilient channelHang 2 layers of 5/8 drywall on the resilient channel with "sound caulking" between the layersIt's a big job, but very effective.