California generally makes pest/vermin control the landlord's responsibility, unless you can prove that the pests/vermin were caused or invited by the tenant. 

My husband is a general contractor and has quit his other job to free up time and speed up the turnaround time on the properties.   

As for the property, I'm an actual cash buyer, and can possibly be your boots on the ground, but I generally don't have too much time for stuff like that.

In this way you can control the rights to the property and approach tenants to negotiate an LOI and then execute a lease before closing on the property/If area is good generally demand is there unless developers are slamming up so much product there is an oversupply to demand.

Generally going to the listing agent isn't a great idea because it forces the agent to represent both you and the seller.

The raw dollars coming in need to be attractive, and the % return needs to outpace the general market at such a rate that the deal is worth the additional effort. 

Generally, this has proven to be true. 

*In general* equity sitting in your primary home is dead.

Then you’ll probably want to hire a general contractor to manage the repairs, unless you have someone local to manage it for you.

We have LOVED using Alan Armstrong from Armstrong Construction for everything that needs a General Contractor.