I’ve seen people start businesses and do the following before they even had the first customer sold: hire a HR person; set up a pension plan; purchase a $110,000 company car; complete a multi colored 5 year forecast with footnotes and 24 pages of explanations; pay a retainer to a CPA; created a full marketing plan without knowing the market; purchase equipment that wouldn’t be needed unless they reached $2 million in sales; and “organize” their files over 3 days.  

As in all things in life (like choosing a spouse)for instance, it's incumbent upon us to examine our individual personalities regarding whether a proposed partnership would be a good fit or a disaster in waiting.In 2007, when I lost more than $130,000 in the stock market,I learnt a permanent lesson that stuck with me till today.I discovered that I was a control freak.I needed to always know how my actions directly related to my results, and most often like to retain the ability to change my mind even if others would find such reversal a stupid idea.Seeing how much control I didn't have on how my stocks performed in 2008 despite all the information I had consumed for several months regarding value investing and how to analyze a company's fundamentals scarred me for life.It made a real estate investor out of me.The safety and assurance that I was taking sole responsibility for the calls i made and the risks I decided to take was a calming refuge.Having been a Pro-member on BiggerPockets for as long as I've been has its perks.It gives one a front row seat to see in slow motion the interesting evolution of the component parts that make up this mammoth industry.I watched in amusement as one member arrived as a total newbie in 2018 with a welcome post, voraciously consuming unsolicited counsel on the member forums for a few months and then posted a "success story" of his deals after 6 months.Within a year, he had his own podcast and is now buying large apartments as a syndicator pooling investors' money.To be clear, this is not a hate post.I certainly do not begrudge people "crushing it" in record time.Nonetheless, as a 'senior' member of this community who has seen this movie before,I do feel a lonely cautionary voice in the wilderness is needed at this point.We are in an environment of unprecedented cap rate compression and record low interest rates which is only headed in one direction after this is all over.Yes, make no mistake, the music will soon stop.That has very little to do with an upcoming election and is regardless of who wins the White House or who controls congress after November.If you've listened to Kevin Bupp and Rod Khleif, you know what happened to their portfolios in 2008.These were no amateurs, as a matter of fact, they had many years of investment experience when the music stopped.They both weathered the storm and came back stronger and that is why I remain a shameless fan of both men till today.Several others were not that lucky, and you will never hear their names.In this space today, there are investors and there are educators.The educators have taken over the habitat.That is why there are now more podcasts on real estate than I can get through in a working week.Real Estate education is so very lucrative now that it is possible to make way more money from podcasts and books than in actual real estate investment for some gifted marketers with smooth tongues and gifted content creators.We are in the information age after all, and youtube millionaires are now perhaps outpacing patient real estate buy and hold landlords in the passive income/ cash flow game.Belonging to a $25,000/year mastermind and attending a syndication bootcamp does not insulate anyone from catastrophe.

In eastern MA, that kind of seclusion is almost unheard of.The views are great too - we overlook a pond and cranberry bog and the fall colors are awesome.I think that the listing agent under-priced it as comps are just impossible. 

Also with job sit cameras I think they alert you when there is motion.

Possibly using a professional third party vendor for the pre-inspection is a great idea, give a copy to the owner and tenantExcessive holes in wallsBroken tiles or fixtures in the propertyPlumbing backupsRepainting where a tenant has repainted from the original color Tears, holes, stains or burn marks in carpetsMissing or damaged blindsBroken windows and window screensBroken doors and locksBroken or damaged appliances Excessively DirtyPest control if you see Bugs and or fleasJunk or trash left behindPast Due rentFees incurred from fines from the association due to the tenants conduct or lack thereofWater damage to hardwood floorsMissing outlet coversRemotes for garage or gate if not returnedRekey of locks if tenants did not return the keysUnpaid utilities, as long as they were part of the lease agreement Undoing a tenant alterationThis is a sample of things that are usually considered to be normal wear-and-tear and should not be deducted from a security deposit:Slab or plumbing leakNormal rug wear.

I did not care for the arlo that works on cell phone service as there was too much time delay before the motion triggered recording started.   

Most people's thoughts about money can change as they age because time is a limiting factor whether 1 dollar net worth or 1 billion.I remember when my wife and I were married we were so poor I had a Toyota Tercel all grey color rusted out and the springs no longer opened the front hood so I drilled in 50 cent metal brackets with screws to hold the hood down.

Anthony, here’s what I suggest:—Bigger, antique dining table on a large rug—Nicer bedding, white bedding —More art and color everywhereIn NOLA you’re competing with a lot of properties with charm and character so up the “NOLa” factor with art, local color and antiques. 

We are successful Airbnb hosts in Montgomery, TX (and hour away) and what sets you apart is simple, clean furnishings, white linens that are high end and light colors everywhere.

@Einat Menashe, you can access a crime map by searching address on trulia.com. click on the photo of the house and it opens a new window where you can click on 6 different things including a crime map shaded by colors.