For pure collecting rent purposes, I like to request them to go to my designated bank directly to deposit.  

So a little update, I checked in with my friend and found he did list his apartment on a website designed to target Americans.

I've also had a couple tenants who tried to sign up and aren't getting the emails so they wound up paying me manually.On the plus side, it's very easy to setup and you can designate multiple bank accounts so if you have different properties, it's easy to indicate which property goes to which bank account. 

I went a period here after the bubble  without ownership of property and have just closed on my 4th deal ever and my first property since after the collapse. 

Michael does design, cost breakdowns, and some project management. 

Also, I did a lot of the design and purchasing.

Notice: All notices, demands, consists, or requests given by the Parties shall be in writing transmitted by telecopier or other means of facsimile transmission with return confirmation requested, postage prepaid, to the other Party at the last facsimile number or address the Party has designated by notice here in.

I actually hired a designer from a website called People Per Hour (I have no affiliation with them).  

an interior designer can help you map out a new layout.

I would work with your agent some on making your offer contingent on a new roof (I have a sample scope of work blog post, designed for a fourplex standard shingle roof)...