You can't control where you live if you're there for a W-2 and need the job, so you can't influence "how much you should pay" as much as you can influence your cash flow.Anywhere you live, if you can find a fixer-upper off market, the entire conversation changes.

You’re also at mercy of the weather, which you can’t control.

Some investors and property managers require that they underwrite their own tenants so they are in control of their risk without necessarily trusting the screening skills of the previous owner/management.

I paid my way through selling pest control door to door each summer.

This I feel would be the better option as this would allow you to have full control of the property and not have someone else that you have to rely on or if you plan to sell they have to sign off on it which could become expensive if things turn to them wanting a portion of the profit.

I can control settings for if and when it auto locks itself.

Also the State is working on laws  for rent control after this. 

If your customer's hosting has regular availability problems, you should increase your PPC campaign budget or recommend changing his hosting.Similarly, you can control the retention rate of visitors to your clients' websites.

It's called arbitrage and it leaves you open to changes that you have no control over.

Decide which of the following you have the most control over.