I know in our area here.. most realtors simply are not going to work with contracts that don't have POF's  they have trained their sellers that its a waste of time to work with any contract that does not have POF>and not just mail order internet POFs must be from local reputable lender that they can verify..

You should run one yourself from a reputable company.  

I was told that GC's typically don't like to come out and give bids on properties that are not even under contract.I'd hate to have a potentially reputable GC come out to walk the property with me and then I don't get the deal and they feel that I wasted their time and that I was just a tire kicker. 

You could partner with reputable investors in your area, or use some of the crowd sourcing investment websites that are out there.

Hi Jen, I am currently working on my first flip and I am having a bad experience with the plumber I hired.

If not, any recommendations on ways to find a reputable and good agent to work with to help a novice RE investor get their first property?

Tina and Joseph go back to the same bank and get a home equity loan for $360,000 to buy a turnkey rental property in Jacksonville run by an extremely reputable management company that provides a steady $200 in cashflow a month, great passive investment with excellent appreciation potential, just like the BP community told her.For the next five years they continue to pay off the original mortgage and the home equity loan, and by 2013 they owe $70,000 on the original mortgage and $305,000 on the home equity loan.

Then, you should call 3 plumbers immediately to get estimates and get the ball rolling. 

I don't live in the area, but there are several property management companies that seem reputable.

I work in an office with a reputable brokerage called Citibrokers.