As doors increase, most owners shift to a single intake method for maintenance, even if everything else still feels informal.What people often move toward:Tenants send maintenance through a portal or dedicated email, not personal textsEach request creates a trackable work order with photos, timestamps, and notesVendor updates and invoices stay tied to that same threadThis setup solves the common breakdowns: missed messages, no paper trail, and forgotten follow-ups.Many small landlords make the switch around 5–10 units — not just from volume, but because memory stops being a reliable system and disputes get more costly. 

The method usually works provided you have a stable asset class and a long enough runway.  

You want a manager who understands NOI, turns, and long-term tenant quality, not just occupancy.2.

It is worth asking whether the market response was influenced by the condition or quality of the rehab itself.

On the BRRRR method, trying to do value add is as important as collecting the rent.

I suggest picking a method that aligns with your risk appetite and time commitment then slowly growing from there.Good luck!

Doing so increases the likelihood of receiving warranties, working with higher-quality contractors, and having independent inspections along the way.

Poor Maintenance - Owners/Managers are letting maintenance go due to decrease revenue, starting a spiral to the bottom quality and poor reviews. 

Quote from @Susan Thelen: Lansing, MichiganI’ve seen Lansing work well for mid-term rentals, but it’s very submarket-specific.What tends to work:Medical-driven demand (Sparrow, McLaren, traveling nurses)MSU-adjacent areas for visiting faculty, grad students, and short-term academic staysGovernment / insurance displacement demand (especially winter)What I’d watch closely:Neighborhood quality matters more for mid-term than short-termFurnishing + utilities can eat margins if pricing isn’t tightSome areas cash flow better as long-term rentals vs mid-termIn my experience, the best-performing setups are 2–3 bed SFHs or small multifamily near hospitals or MSU, priced to stay occupied rather than chasing peak monthly rates.Happy to share what I’ve seen work (and not work) if helpful.

Do your research on all these methods. choose one then start analyzing deals from there.