Set some meetingns get on a plane and get out here.  

There are some good ideas noted but please also consider you possibility of cash flow if you are planing on renting out the property in the future.

If it isn't local, a plane ticket costs around $200-$300.

The cost of plane tickets to fly back and forth to check in usually doesn't pencil out.  

Plus are close enough so that I can just jump on a plane and arrive in a few hours. 

I agree you should pick your battles even for ridiculous comments.You could propose fastening some vertical battens every 8" o.c. or so to accent the plane appearance but it adds more potential paths for water to get in.

I loved investing in Stone Mnt area .. unfortunately I never moved there like i planed and found the distance flipping to much without a boots on the ground person I could trust .. good luck I wish you all the very best ..God Speed, Michael Short  

Perhaps a quick plane trip out this weekend to scope out the area or someone he knows that he can couch surf for a week or two when he gets here so he can get a lay of the land.

By the time the real title company has alerted me that they had not got the funs, I was about to take off for a trip (literally on the plane)  At the time, my agent was able to call the bank (WellsFargo) and alert them of the fradulent account of which they then found and closed. 

I picked my top 3 choice,started making offers and hopped on a plane.