So, let’s look at this with two complete strangers doing this deal.

This is just the opinion of an Internet stranger, but starting out your REI journey with a non-cashflowing townhome feels a bit FOMO.

That's an enormous amount of trust you have to leave in a complete stranger. 2.

No stranger is going to be able to convince you take the leap and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars.

With covid, people may be less willing to share a space with a stranger.

So maybe your guy is one of those.All that said, if you've had multiple reputable contractors - emphasis on reputable, make sure they're that - tell you they'd skip a permit on your job in that particular area, with that set of circumstances, I'd be a lot more likely to listen to them than a bunch of internet strangers (me included).

I do this to see if they are serious and because I don’t want a “stranger” entering my tenants home.

I know that really successful investors don't share their secrets with strangers, especially in a local market, however, there's still a chance, isn't it?

And I live in LA - I am no stranger to shmarm.

Now, why would I provide a single method to a stranger, for free, in order to provide content for their for-profit publishing venture?