How do you determine a scope or work and what materials to buy?

[Sofia De Santos Tavarez]

Hello, my husband and I are looking to do our first rehab in a different city than where we live (we live in Austin and looking to buy in El Paso), and are wondering how one determines and writes a scope of work and determine what material to buy for what. Does this all come from the general contractor? How does one define design choices, etc?

Second question is, if we don't live in the city we will invest in, we understand we will have to be traveling often, but who could be a good person to check in on the construction so we don't have to go every week? Would that be a property manager? Is that on the general contractor to keep us posted? Or do we need to travel every week?

Any advice on the process above would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!