I it goes under contract that time is paused.

@Luke Carl I don't disagree on the likely down rank in platform algorithms and while rare on my end as well the cost of being wrong and/or the language around host concerns having to "prove" a guest will violate house rules is what causes me pause here, since anyone that's ever tried to seek reimbursement for "proven" guest damages or other items knows well where this ends up.

I would love to come, but recent COVID cases has given me a pause.. 

I'm going to pause here to point out the problem many people have getting into real estate. 

On top of this I would ask around on local message boards and/or other investors who have used them.50% on a small handyman type of job isn't unreasonable, but 50% on a large job should be pause for due diligence, not that I wouldn't do it depending on my trust and experience with the individual but definitely a cause for due diligence.As has been said before, for every shady contractor, their is usually an equal number of shady customers.

Let's pause the 'contract' part for a second...People have a life outside the contract, and things can and do come up.

If the property no longer works financially with different assumptions you might want to pause to see if you still have a deal or if the price is too high.

And then pause.

Fortunately there is light at the end of the tunnel.Lastly, Ive said it before, but you CAN do some level of screening while in the due-diligence phase (at least in PA) using the PA Judicial search (google that).

We gave us on Navy Federal, while the rep wanted to pause our application at 42 days, because the time element made him look bad.