In a public forum, you'll get many that failed in getting a good education and they will defend themselves and their choices, it's human nature, but understand those that don't have formal training certainly don't know the benefits, they can't.

Don't feel bad though, you are experiencing a natural growing pain of real estate investment. 8-units is a real portfolio; in my experience most investors start to seriously consider professional management once they reach 8 to 10 units.

There is an incomparable advantage beyond money to doing work yourself. try it, you will enjoy the work and the finished product allot more then you think if it is the fruits of your own labor and the savings will naturally follow.

And by reducing your expenses, you improve your bottom line and improve the value of your building too.We've also switched from oil heated properties to natural gas heated properties and reduced heat costs. 

Prices get pushed up because of the competitive nature of people bidding against each other.  

I agree with worrying about the bigger natured-items, such as hvac and water. 

Got a call yesterday from the natural gas company, turns out he turned on his own natural gas weeks before having his daughter call the company to have it put in her name (was told he has past due bills with the gas company so that is likely why he had her call).

The speculative nature of stocks and the unwarranted fluctuations in stock prices left me wanting to have more control in my investments.

Nor are my comments to fuel arguments to those who want to publically justify what they do after they just stepped in it publically which is just human nature to argue their point.

So to update… We spoke with my MIL and she loves the idea and the nature of her relationship with us I don't see any issues arising from it.