I’ve been researching local professionals and would welcome any advice on how to vet and connect with reliable team members, particularly in a high-cost area like the Bay Area.As for hard money, I haven’t explored it in depth yet, but I’m open to the idea for the right deal.

This is my pre-retirement preparation.

That doesn't pass a cursory BS test, and risks the appraiser calling out either fixed plumbing + permits, or a licensed professional remove the bathroom.

Welcome to BP - this is a great platform to initiate your real estate journey.Dive into comprehensive guides, connect with experienced professionals, and explore a wealth of opportunities that can help you achieve your real estate goals. 

Spreadsheets/Templates:If you don’t want to start from scratch, sites like BiggerPockets and others have pre-built templates you can use to run your numbers and track your expenses.

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

By a professional estimate I mean having a contractor bid the work, not just me estimating the jobs. 

Requires some pre-planning if the ceiling height exists. 

We found it on a platform called Pre-REO.

Quote from @John Teachout: Title work is typically done as part of the pre-closing paperwork.