And when you pay the invoice, in the Memo line of the check, reference the invoice number you're paying and, assuming you are paying it in full, write "Paid in full" or "Final payment" to keep Mechanics Liens out of your life.To avoid confusion, I tell my contractors before they start that they will be getting a 1099 from me at the end of the year and collect the required information right then.

But your stop-loss mechanisms save you on the trades you lose, and your profit happens on the trades that go the right way. 

You didn't need to be a visionary to look at the primitive steamboats on the Hudson and see sailing ships days were numbered or see how the early farm mechanization would change agriculture.

How are mechanicals?

You are correct that the tax treatment of Airbnb business (emphasis on "business") is distinct from other forms of real estate investment - and that you should get clarity about that to incorporate into tax planning and investment ROI analysis.

This will avoid any 'mechanics lien' surprises. 

I have wanted to buy my own truck for years now but I am not mechanically inclined by any means.

@Jesse Mitchell for the most part mechanicals have little affect on the market value.

I would suggest trying to learn some of the simple stuff via YouTube or some basic home mechanics books you could get from the local library. 

I then swapped over to contracting with an emphasis on disaster response (fire/water/mold/smoke/storm) and general contracting, both commercial and residential.