Explain to her that it is her problem to cut the grass plain and simple .  

Actually, your question is fairly simple. 

This would be my first investment property and, as I crunch the numbers, believe this could be a worthwhile investment and relatively simple way to start my REI career.I have a few questions for those that manage properties and would appreciate your feedback.- What is the most comprehensive/reliable, but cost effective, way to screen tenants?

The process takes 60 to 90 days at the minimum if the Trustee and owner are co-operative and no one objects.

I am in the Lansing market and I WISH our local REIA operated on the level that Detroit's clubs do.

If you have a standard oil fired boiler for the current radiant, it's pretty simple to convert to gas.

You need to find a few of them, establish relationships, and watch what they buy and how they operate these properties.

But it was also a real simple flip. 

I am very against the 1031 for investors moving toward syndications and not being the day to day operator.

@Marysue Connelly, without treading too far down the tax advice path I'll just say that there are a few gajillion disregarded LLC entities operating in the United States right now.