As you can never truly be protected other than making sure it's in the contract with your GC who is doing the project.  

The right agent or team can help to make sure that you are making the best deal for you. 

Best of luck and spend every minute learning.

@Corey Pinch if you're a go-getter, make sure you find a company, or negotiate, that you're directly rewarded for your hustle - commissions, bonuses, etc.

(not sure on state law but this probably is a tough sell)4.

Be sure to explore all around the forums as well as many of the FREE tools that Bigger Pockets provides.I am on the lending side of things and am always happy to hop on a call to discuss loan options that are out there, even if not offered by my resources.

We want to make sure we are acting according to Texas law, but don’t want to spend on something we may not need.

Make sure it explicitly explains the process for termination if you are unhappy with their services, but especially if they violate the terms of your agreement.3.

Lessons learned?

I’m excited to learn from your experiences and advice.