Here are three ways professional, proactive maintenance can make a real difference:It Reduces Turnover (and the Cost That Comes With It): A well-maintained property is a happy tenant's home.

This way you avoid penalties, reduce stress, and spread the cash flow.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.

This significantly reduces risk, especially for your first deal.

By setting up the proper legal and financial structures, you can shield yourself, reduce your chances of being pulled into costly disputes, and often gain an advantage if conflicts do arise.To do this the right way, it helps to have the support of trusted professionals.

And simply rolling your money into another property doesn’t eliminate taxes—if you want to defer or reduce them, you’d need a tool like a 1031 exchange, an Opportunity Zone investment, or an installment sale.

I need to have it done by the end of the year and I am starting to stress! 

On the other hand, selling would give you access to over $200,000, which could reduce your stress and give you more time for your family and jobs.Here are a few things to weigh:If the house continues to drain your time and energy, selling could be the best “investment” for your peace of mind.If you keep it, don’t aim for perfection.

If anything, you lack the scale to have systems and resources in place, so you'll just be stressed every time you need a repair.

With smart, proactive planning, you can reduce your tax burden and give yourself greater financial freedom as your portfolio grows.Equally critical is building a strong asset protection strategy.

I appreciate the Rent to Retirement leadership from CEO @Zach Lemaster, who has clearly developed a process that takes the stress out of buying investment properties.