Always awesome to have a reliable contractor connection. 

If anyone has any advice on what resources to use or any advice from personal experience that would be greatly appreciated and if anyone has heard of FasterFreedom could you let me know if it would be a reliable source for me to use?

Many landlords double-check with tools like TransUnion SmartMove or RentPrep to get cleaner identity matching and more reliable credit and background data.

What might I be doing wrong, and where do experienced investors usually find reliable wholesalers who consistently bring real, workable deals? 

I haven't had any issues with the wifi in either the Kwikset or the Schlage but my Schlage is in a city location with usually reliable internet.

Specifically, I’m curious about: • Best practices for self-managing from another state • Tenant screening and lease management remotely • Building a reliable local team (contractors, handymen, cleaners) • Software/tools for managing rent, maintenance, and communication • Any Ohio-specific landlord tips or things to watch out for Any advice, lessons learned, or resources would be greatly appreciated.

I’d say real estate is still one of the most reliable ways to build long-term wealth, but it’s not automatically the “safest” asset for everyone.

From what I’ve seen working with experienced investors, the choice between private money vs. hard money usually comes down to a few very specific, commonly used criteria.Experienced investors usually weigh a mix of speed, certainty, and structure, and the right choice often depends on the deal’s timeline and complexity.Hard Money tends to win when:Speed to close is criticalThe borrower needs higher leverage or a more structured rehab draw processThe deal requires a lender who is used to assessing value and risk quicklyThere’s a need for predictable underwriting and a clear, repeatable processPrivate Money is often preferred when:Flexibility matters more than structureBorrowers want lower fees or a more relationship-based arrangementThe deal doesn’t require renovations or complicated funding mechanicsThe investor has long-standing trust with the lenderMost seasoned investors tell us they choose based on certainty of execution—who can reliably close fast, fund clean, and stay consistent from one deal to the next.

What's worked for me is having a reliable handyman with clear response time expectations, plus a simple system for tracking rent payments and maintenance requests.

I’ve been spending the last few months analyzing neighborhoods, running numbers, and building relationships with reliable local professionals, and I’d love to expand my network even more.