I'm wondering if anyone can give a high level description of steps to take for renovating a house. 

Look for their facebook pagegoogle them with 'name' and 'arrest'or mugshot and state.just google their nameHave met a few nice young men applying for a unit and then seeing them on FB with guns or white power....

Daily pictures and written descriptions of work is what I do for my clients.

It was all very insightful and I met a couple of people. 

@Kole Kingslien I know your description was somewhat generic, but the "good layout with sunroom" makes me wonder if I toured the property...

That will let them know that someone knows you are there and will be reaching out to you soon.When I show rental properties to perspective tenants, I look out the front window when the vehicle arrives and text my wife the license plate number or vehicle description.

When I was younger I met a man who had a portfolio with all of his properties encumbered. 

I would love to look at something similar to your description.

I might of got a little confused now that I read @Nicholas Horsburgh his reply he did not say PPM he said offering memorandum .. many would take that as a PPM  ( private placement memorandum) but maybe he meant like a detailed description in writing of what your trying to accomplish.Generally there are no real contracts for loans there are loan documents though Note  mortgage settlement statement and depending on the lender a whole host of other various and sundry documents usually disclosures so you can't sue the lender. :)

  I recently met a guy on a job site that during a brief conversation about real estate, had explained that he was interested in selling the duplex he lived in.