Here are a few tips for agents I can think off:1.)

With an invoice showing "no charge" for fixing the cupboard, this hopefully can't happen again if a contractor changes did mind or has some type of mental lapse.  

Have you explored any markets that you find particularly enticing?

Hi Ben, I'm way new to this and I'm not as far along as you are, but I wanted to say I can relate to feeling alternately encouraged and then like my dreams might be unattainable.

I'd love to know this as well.I do pickup a listing or 2 per year from Craigslist.  

Certainly, this is a common strategy.B.

I appreciate the encouragement—I'm excited to learn from and connect with investors in this community.Right now, I’m primarily focused on house hacking in the LA market, but I’m open to exploring out-of-state opportunities later in my career.

Any recommendations for free tools to do market research?

I have 3 associates / relatives that would be doing my renovations, as I would be finding, analyzing, and purchasing the deals. 

Over the past 15+ years in this business, i have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly.