There is no simple answer to this question.

Your local laws will be VITAL when you are a landlord.Bonus step: Not everyone will agree with this one, but I think you should make an attempt to learn and understand some of the trades like contracting, plumbing, etc.

I have very similar views to @Scott TrenchI'm a buy and hold rental investor with a goal of buying 1 to 2 properties a year until I get to $20,000/mo in gross rents.My financial plan is simple and I divide it into different categories:6 months of personal living expenses as cash in the bank.

Be honest.Explain, in brief, simple terms what you do. 

What I am doing, however, is sending each tenant a simple text just asking how they are doing and empathizing.

The reason is simple.

In my area it is a pretty simple process to split one lot into two and costs about $5000 total.

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

I'd suggest hiring an attorney that specializes in property law and not tackling it yourself, but the process as a whole is quite simple.

Observe how they deal and communicate with you, how they make you feel, and how they work with people.Your property manager should also excel in negotiation and managing complaints because these will be vital in dealing with different types of tenants over the lifetime of your rental property.3.