Hello fellow investors, how much do you typically spend to fully furnish a 3-bedroom, 2-bath STR home, and what effective strategies have you used to keep furnishing costs down?

Start a System for 2026 Before January HitsEven simple workflows—monthly reconciliations, consistent document storage, and automation tools—can make next year far easier.Year-end bookkeeping doesn’t have to be stressful.

My question is what are typical things you look for in a "good" title company?

You need to do your part by checking in with them regularly, submitting documents they need from you promptly, and keeping your agent in the loop can prevent most delays.You’ll typically work with your agent, lender (and underwriting), appraiser, title/escrow, insurance, inspectors, and sometimes an attorney.

At the very least you'll need typically:- demo guys- electrcian- plumber- carpenter- floor guy- roofer- tile guy if you have to- drywall crew- paint crew- landscaper- tree guy- concrete/asphaltIf your contractor marks up everuy trade by 5k thats 60k in markups.A typical flip takes about 500 to 700 man hours.

Most people judge syndications simply because they don’t understand how they work, and many jump in blind without knowing how to vet sponsors correctly or stress-test deals.

Typically, you want your monthly rent for a mid-term rental to be twice the traditional long-term rental rate to cover the higher vacancy, furniture costs, and utilities.I live in Santa Fe myself, and would be happy to discuss specifics about the market.Jens 

A true BRRRR comes down to one thing: buying at a number where the appraisal wipes out your basis.On my recent projects, the typical amount I leave in a deal is 0 to 5k.

It’s stressful, risky, and expensive even for an experienced, local investor.  

The demand is usually steady year-round in Chicago for that group.That said, here’s how I’d weigh it:If you go MTR:You’ll need to furnish it properly — not fancy, but turnkey: queen bed in each room, blackout curtains, comfy couch, smart TV, solid Wi-Fi, a stocked kitchen (pots/pans, utensils, coffee maker, toaster), and a simple desk setup.Expect about $4K–$6K upfront to get it guest-ready if you’re starting from scratch.Cleaning and turnover management can be automated (Turno app or a local cleaner), but there’s still some coordination involved.Since you’re near a hospital, list on both Furnished Finder and Airbnb (30+ night stays) — that combo usually keeps you booked.If you go LTR instead:You’ll save yourself the time and mental load of setting up a new system while adjusting to newborn life.Even if the rent’s lower, you’ll get steady income and less stress, which might be worth it right now.Winter leasing in Chicago:Yeah, it’s slower — especially December through February — but MTRs tied to hospitals stay active because medical contracts don’t follow the same seasonality.If this were me?