Consistency is key to protecting yourself.

Accordingly, it is crucial to find a competent local real estate lawyer who can prepare the right documents and protect your interest.Of course, you assume the risk of the buyer not paying you, ether thru bad intentions or thru circumstances beyond his control, like loss of employment, accident, illness, divorce etc.

What other things should I consider to make things simple but also protect me from headaches.

@Shanai RogersI agree completely with @Stephen J Davis that you need to protect your credit by paying all your bills on time.

I can not give names, but they are big players and people will see them pulling out of their deals in the next coming days.

But more experienced hosts who have the time and investment to protect often communicate with guests to find a bot more about them; like what they do, why are they coming, who are the members of their party. 

I'd be willing to write an offer on certain properties sight unseen if I can be sufficiently protected by an inspection contingency, but I have no way to know what its length needs to be.

What are you doing to prepare to protect yourself financially?

It is literally one piece of paper and a 1-line addendum, but the purpose of it is to protect your deposit.

I haven't been a big enough player to have to dig real deep there yet...As far as funding deals, any specific strategies you're planning to implement in order to make the most of the buyers market?