Have a deferred maintenance plan.Michael P Currie[Moderator's Note:  Removed self-promotion URL from forum post]

Vacant properties attract trouble and cost money because of utilities.If you offer this promotion, require deposit and first months rent (January rent) and give them December free if they take over utilities.

There are multiple groups/companies that have done a lot of the homework and their business is to promote good areas and opportunities to buy turnkey rentals in areas poised for some good growth and potential.

In order to promote your property listing on Craigslist: First, you’ll want to write a catchy and informative title and description for your listing.

I've gone and removed several posts that were self-promotional from this discussion.

At the heart of the issue was the phenomenon of people turning tenement housing into penny-rent 'hotels' that promoted urban blight and extreme poverty.This book prompted bans on short-term subletting in New York and copied by other densely populated cities like San Francisco; these laws are the basis for the illegality of Airbnb and other similar websites.  

Coming from a position of knowledge is more powerful than coming from that of a learning stage, so choose your wording wisely.Also, reiterate to these people monthly what you do and your offer of the $500 referral fee.Now we’re to the type of person that you don’t know.You Never Know Who You’re Talking ToNever assume that someone is not worth promoting yourself and your services to.

@Alex Craig,Since we are starting to get deep in this, I want to mention I have received the standard referral fees from Mid South that they offer to everyone on their website, and while I'm not trying to promote them in this thread, I want to let everyone know I like their model and it's what I do in CA for my houses. 

I'm also skeptical of paying for a service that I haven't received or that would take place in the future, so finding out about their money back warranty would be something to get to.I can understand their 9-16% interest rate after the 12 months 0% promotion.

The marketing efforts of such firms certainly promote that belief.