Spend time figuring out exactly who you want to surround yourself with and then get to work at mastering the basics.  

Instead of spending all the time necessary to craft a custom application, I would use an existing process through a website like Zillow or many others or at least ask your real estate agent for a blank application.

I am not sure if partnering with close friend, also with 50% stake in the game when I may have to spend more time on this whole process sounds fair or not.

I trust my management company but I always approve anything over $100 before they spend my money on it.  

Cash back gives you flexibility to spend it how you see fit, versus being locked into mileage and block out restrictions. 

Listing agents don't need advertising, buyer agents have no money to spend on leads.

Surely there is a clause in it regarding the amount of money they are permitted to spend without owner approval. 

Median Price: $525,000 +7.14% Yoy - 7ish % isn't unusual, I have multiple ~7% moves since 2016.Sales: 5,344, -10.06% - normal number for September, 2020 was unusually high due to delayed purchases from Covid thus the yoy lossYTD sales: 41,238, +8.36% - highest Sept read I have, houses are selling.Inventory: 5,875, +6.16% - still too low compared to pre-Covid, see stacked chart.New Listings: 6,366, -10.61% - still too low compared to pre-Covid, see stacked chart.YTD New listings: 51,949, -2.47% - prior to Covid we were running 60k+ houses.Months Supply: 1.2, -14.29% - persistently low indicating an unrelenting sellers market, see the Existing homes as a % of households chart, continues to shrink.Cumulative days on Market: 26, -44% - persistently low indicating an unrelenting sellers market

I also don't want to spend money on continued professional treatments just to have them infest from next door repeatedly. 3. 2018 home was purchased for 150k, 6% increase every year.

I've cleaned it myself the last few times and luckily it's close to where I live, but I'd rather spend time in other areas.