First-Timer w/ Interest in BRRRR

[Davis H Son]

I live in Herndon, VA and am looking to invest in my first rental property. I have strong interest in BRRRR, but the local market is very expensive, so am looking at other better rental markets that aren't terribly far away (like Richmond).

My concern is the Rehab portion of BRRRR since I'm not located in the immediate area, but 2.5 hours away. Ideally I could visit the site whenever I want, but realistically I could only visit maybe 4-5 times max during the rehab process. How much of a challenge is this as a first-timer? Would it be better for me to reconsider the local market and just pay the higher upfront prices when I buy?

Thanks in advance all!

Davis