I do my own leasing and screen tenants.Unlike stocks, a tenant's past performance is a guarantee of future results.

I am trying to do my own screening/renting on my next rental.

I have been putting in stainless steel, double door refrig, flat top stove, microwave and dishwasher all by the same manufacturer.

I believed i screened them well.

Most burglaries are executed by people known to the victim.Good riddance of bad rubbish as my grandmother used to say.Tighten up your screening and be thankful it wasn't because of a police raid and now you have damage and must do the eviction because the tenant is in jail and all his stuff is in your property.Be sure to get him to sign a termination agreement.

I paint my apartments with the cheap HD eggshell flat paint (except for the bath /kitchen).

I was counting on doing a renovation mortgage because I don't have the cash to purchase flat out, or to put in the needed work to get it to rental condition, so I am trying to figure out my other options.

It builds the relationship beyond just doing a financial deal, and will yield more opportunities than just screening everyone for what I want right now. 

Fortunately, I screened my tenants carefully.

You have to be prepared to learn and screen out tenants and that only comes with experience.