I would also recommend a 6 month lease so you are not running into this same situation year after year.

Would trust Jake's recommendations on agents!

@Clare Pitcher we do 12+ month leases to avoid vacancies Nov-Feb.If we take over an occupied property, evict or have tenancy-abandon a property, we first let the owner know finding a tenant will take longer than "normal".This opens up owners to understanding they may need to:1) Offer 3D tour and floor plans to stand out2) Price more aggressively or be prepared for aggressive price reductions3) Offer MoveIn Specials:- NOTE: we do NOT recommend offering a month of free rent that can be used at MoveIn.

Has anyone used bridge loans for this type of strategy or is there any other loans that anyone would recommend other than HELOC?

Any recommendations on local networks or specific methods that have worked for you?

Tools that I see to analyze deals: Zillow, rent websites, craigslist what other tools do you recommend?  

Not sure I'd recommend jumping straight into a flip, but if you're buying in cash you'll have less risk. 

I do, however, recommend getting a hotel.  

Can anyone recommend a company that offers a builders risk policy to cover the construction period but then will also allow a cancellation and refund after work is finished to convert into a standard landlord policy.  

It can affect estimated replacement cost and therefore the amount of coverage recommended/required.