Hear me out.Let's say part of your screening criteria is a minimum of 3x rent as income.

(will need to find new tenants for both units soon)Contracting all repairsPros - Shorter duration, lower holding costs, more time dedicated to tenant screening and property management, begin developing relationships with contractorsCons - Higher labor cost, harder to develop specifications/standards, less money available for future investing.What are other folks doing out there starting out?

We also negotiated the terms of our JV back and forth to make sure the securities risk was placed with those in control of the investor screening processes, which is something other agreements severely lack at this point.  

it was requested that we share our lead app.We were finally able to do that: http://bit.ly/PodioLeadCRMThis is a template we use to screen a seller in a B to C Class Neighborhood in Indianapolis.You can download Podio onto your Phone or Tablet for quick and easy access to the Lead Entry App so you never have to write leads down on paper again.This App is also a useful tool for your Virtual Assistant since we've added Tool Tips with our script in " ".

A great option for agents and licensed investors is to go for a flat fee Real Estate Brokerage.  

Yes, you need this information to properly screen them. 

They did a huge amount of work for a flat fee of $600.

Some of them are very talented and are portfolio building so want to deliver a great finished result.Maybe not accomplished, but certainly reasonable.The down side is there's front end screening time and turnover.Just a thought...

Hello BP,I'm in the process of renting the other side of my duplex, and just got through an eviction so I'm more cautious during my screening process.

Both units need work; here are the larger items:Appliances (Unit A needs range + fridge; Unit B needs fridge): $1,500Floors (flooring needed in living area, hallway, bedrooms - probably use vinyl): $3,000Windows (need to be re-sealed) + New Doors (front screen door, doors in basement to yard, etc.): $1,500Paint (most rooms need paint): $1,000Roof Shingles: (may or may not need to do; roof missing a few shingles near gutter): $300Dryer Duct (missing a piece that connects from laundry room to outside, quick fix): $100Hot Water Heaters (electric) x 2: $2,000 (which is probably way high, but trying to be conservative).TOTAL ESTIMATED REHAB BUDGET (which is probably sky-high): $9,400ESTIMATED CLOSING COSTS: $5,000 all-inPROJECTED CASH-ON-CASH RETURNS: 14.91%=====================SECTION 8 PROGRAMI really need to educate myself on the Section 8 program.