Any suggestions on how to locate the perfect person for this job and tips on how to onboard this person smoothly or anything to avoid? 

He was happy to do the deal and it went smooth.

But more than anything else, I have learned that this business is not about getting rather about providing solution to distress sellers and making that transition as easy and smooth as possible. 

If you can get someone with 700 plus credit and 5x or 6x monthly  income over rent it should be smooth. 

A smooth sea never produced a skilled sailor (Franklin D.

Whenever you are buying a property out of state you should do a few things to ensure it's as smooth as possible.Don't buy in the roughest neighborhood in the urban core.

I hope the reno goes smoothly and you can get it rented quickly!

At closing, the seller gave me a credit for the rent that had been accrued to the time of closing so that made the transaction smooth.

I still use my contracts but I'll pay the agent 2% (to basically show the house and get out of the way so it closes smoothly).

That's because they find the closing will go more smoothly with their approved lender/even the one owned by them and they will make money using their own title company.Also, in those situations where the Builder has an inhouse title company, their fees are standard and competitive with the fees charged by Chicago Title.