A great agent will be able to help you negotiate a deal, provide you with referrals to great partnerships for your lender, inspector, and attorney and they'll prevent you from making costly mistakes.

Always have you or your representative there as well for two reasons.1) To protect your tenants belongings and privacy (There is no reason for a kitchensink repair to go into their bedroom etc)2) To prevent "Scope creep" with an issue.

If the unit has been inspected, but not deleaded, you also cannot do any construction or remodeling in the unit, they consider that unauthorized deleading and it will prevent you from ever getting a lead cert.

Here are some other questions to consider:1)  Is there any city ordinance that prevents me from engaging in exactly the same behavior as I engage in for my STR when it's not for money? 

Some have mutual hold harmless's that may prevent you from collection from the neighbor.

Not only does this prevent no shows, but it shows who is responsible and good at following directions.

Getting a judgment will prevent the property from being sold or refinanced. 

You can google her contact info as forum restrictions prevent me from sharing her contact details.If you do end up speaking with her, please pass along an enthusiastic hello for me!

My wife is super nervous and anxious and keeps making me doubt good deals I am finding and preventing me from achieving the deal and starting.

Its put in to prevent exactly what you're trying to do