Hi @Mo Nueman,
Depending on what exactly you're doing/looking for, there are a few options. The easiest one is to find an investor-friendly agent (which you can do here on BP), as Michael mentioned above. This is typically the method for on-market/MLS properties, as I'm sure you know, but you could also offer a commission to your agent if they help you with an off-market property. Agents are a great resource for the neighborhood insights you're looking for and are typically more than happy to take photos and videos of properties you're considering. Agents will have inspectors they know/have worked with in the past as well if you need recommendations and have a network they can lean on if you need more specific inspections (e.g., sewer line, septic, pest, mold, etc.).
Another great service that can help with all of these things comes from property managers. Even if you don't have a property to manage, you can start the conversation with them, explain what you're looking to do in their area, and they will be able to advise you on neighborhood insights, inspectors, and, once you have a property for them, have them go out for photos and videos.
Regarding photos and videos, another option I've used is a 3rd party platform such as TaskRabbit. The key is to be very specific about what you're looking for in regards to quality of photos, whether you want full walk-through videos or have them broken up by area, etc. When I hired this type of work out, I put together a full job description as if I were hiring a photographer/videographer. It's best to set expectations upfront and ensure they're going to cover all of the areas that you need to see.
For inspections, while it depends on what your main goals are (e.g., price vs. quality & comprehensiveness), you can usually find plenty online. I recommend starting with a certifying association such as InterNACHI, ASHI, NAHI, etc. (searching "home inspectors association" will give you all of these as top results), and then searching for a home inspector based on location. From there, narrow your results by checking out their services, costs, and many even provide report examples of actual inspections they've completed so you can know what to expect as a final product. There are typically local inspection companies that provide investor-focused inspections that are a bit more basic (e.g., testing main components, general mechanicals condition, basic roof condition, any major red flags, etc.) for a lower cost. These are the type of inspections you usually find wholesalers using because they're around half the price of a full home inspection (e.g., $200 vs $400, depending on your market and their services). Many home inspectors will also offer add-on services for the more specific inspections I mentioned above. I recommend putting a spreadsheet together as you're doing this research so that you only have to do it once. Choose your top ~3 inspection companies, contact info, etc. and then when you're ready to start due diligence on a property, start with your top choice and then utilize your backups if needed for availability, coverage area, or whatever other reason. Use this same spreadsheet and build it out anytime you're looking for new professionals in all of the trades. That's how you start an introductory vendor/contractor list. Then the next time you need to hire a plumber, you just go to your list instead of starting over with a Google search.
Finally, regarding neighborhood insights, if you're not using an agent, and don't find another boots-on-the-ground type person in your area, networking is the way to go. You can do that here on BP, for example. Use the search function to search the forums and blog posts first for information on the market(s) you're interested in. Chances are, there is a thread or 20 that already contain(s) discussion on what you're looking for. If not, start a new thread and/or connect with people that you see are active in the market(s). You can also search for real estate associations in the area, utilize websites such as neighborhoodscout (there are several others like this, which I'm sure you will also find in forums/blog posts), and sometimes even local entities such as title companies will put out information on their local market that has great info on demographics, price points, growth areas, etc.
Long story short - there are ways to get all the information you're looking for but in some cases it may take some extra effort if you're not working with an agent or property manager.
In any case, wish you the best of luck! Keep us posted on how your journey goes. And if you're looking at the Northern Nevada or Northeast Ohio markets (I live in Reno, NV and invest from a distance in the Cleveland, OH area), feel free to connect and message me for more specific referrals.
Cheers,
Alex
