I'm meeting with a couple agents i was referred to through my network and am wondering what critical questions I should be asking them to understand if they are the right partners for me in this market, especially considering I will be managing this investment from the other side of the country, and what info I should be prepared to provide to them.

I went to his office, met him and his team, and left with a good impression. 

Hiring a lawyer sounds expensive, but it is way cheaper than hiring a amateur (in this case yourself) who costs you money and provides no results (and then you need to hire a professional anyway).My personal philosophy is to "do it right, or do it twice" and its way cheaper to do it right once. 

My first house had a tenant in it when I bought the house and they just up and left and left the house in rough shape.

➡️Find the right investment opportunities.

Russell is 100% right, sell it!

However to save money when she had the house built, she left the basement unfinished--it is just studs, insulation, and windows/doors, plus plumbing in the foundation.

Not sure if I can put the link in so left it out.

I do think flips done right and priced in the median move within a few weeks.

Someone left early and asked for a refund; should I give it to them?