I was ready to accept his praise...."

If it's praise from the community &/or tenant base you are looking for, this is not the business you want to be in. 

I can not praise enough.

Not being there can raise all sorts of doubts in the minds of prospective clients.It gives satisfied customers a platform to sing your praises.

One in  my area is called "Praise Buildings"

This gives you a shorter path to find them and praises the manager as having good opinions. 

Maybe a phone call praising the appraiser's competence is enough.

The majority of College doesn't help with real estate investment directly.Things you can learn make a great business plan, and other accounting and business skills.Things that can help you like making connections and networking.Getting an introduction from a professor, who sings your praises as an "enthusiastic and self-starter".

I'd say too that if you take a greater interest in the contractor, ask to see his portfolio of work, if it's great, praise it, contractors see themselves as craftsmen creating things, just stroke the ego a bit.

@David Morrison, this is the highest praise I think I could receive.