This is where having little to no experience makes it difficult because you probably won't have a track record with trades like plumbers and maintenance people so I'd work on building out those relationships as quickly as possible.

Nobody seems to have a problem with a plumber or appliance repair guy charging $100, sometimes $200 to give them an estimate on a job.

Spouting jargon and cant gets you ignored and damages your reputation. 

I would recommend reaching out to a mortgage broker that has a reputation of working with foreign investors. 

Can you tell me the names of the national private lenders that you find reputable?

Your name and reputation is far more important than a single deal. 

Or should I have her pay for a plumber to install and uninstall it?

Developing a reputation for integrity and fairness in business interactions might help you find off-market assets.

I challenge you to find a single reputable source that shows San Diego residential RE has not produced outstanding ROI.  

Hi Gary, Finding reputable contractors can be time-consuming and difficult.