The key is building a reliable local team—property managers, realtors, and contractors you trust.

It's a new resource from BiggerPockets that helps you find reliable property management partnerships and gives you everything you need to make confident hiring decisions:-Expert Matching: Match with professionals who meet your criteria-Extra Assurance: See licenses, experience, ratings, reviews, and more that can be cross-checked with BiggerPockets members-Bonus Content: Plus they'll send you an interactive workbook: “How to Interview Property Management Companies”Hope this helps!

The best way to see if someone is a reliably paying tenant is by their credit score. 

And if I find a reliable agent and reliable property management company in one of those cities, then I'd start there.

These methods include: Detailed Engineering Cost ApproachDetailed Engineering Cost Estimate ApproachSurvey or Letter ApproachResidual Estimation ApproachSampling or Modeling ApproachExperience or “Rule of Thumb” ApproachIt’s important to understand the differences between the approaches including which one best fits your property and the reliability of each approach.DETAILED ENGINEERING COST APPROACHThis approach compiles the costs from construction and accounting reports to build a report.

Any tips on finding reliable professionals in my area?

In a city like Philly, you will face many challenges - you need to learn the market and know the neighborhood and the block and make sure all of your numbers are within reason, you need very reliable contractors, you need a to understand the permit process, you need to be familiar with market expectations. 

To build momentum, I’d start small, assemble a reliable local team, and ensure the properties I invest in have strong fundamentals.

If you're strictly seeking off-market deals, I recommend connecting with and working with a reliable/resourceful wholesaler instead of a real estate agent.

It’s a cleaner, more reliable solution, and while the higher subscription cost can feel like a drawback, it’ll save you a lot of headaches and time in the long run.