Even if you have to visit $1k for a day trip, go and walk the area, meet the PM/Realtor/contractor in person. 

I was thinking I would create a course that involves a field trip to one of the flips I am working and pointing out all of the things they should catch and helping them understand rehab costs at a line item level.I am an expert in electrical and learned plumbing in the Coast Guard.

I just went to a "retreat" (it was a camping trip up at Cochise Stronghold) where the leader in my area had a sit-down with me about my 5-star. 

If they fail to allow access, they are charged a $100 trip charge fee.If their schedule doesn't allow them to be there, then I will open the home for the contractor.I try to respect the tenant's schedule, but I also expect them to respect mine and the contractor's.

It all depends on how long the work trip is.

expect to put some real time, effort, and trips in... hours and hours and days and days. 

Assume 10% waste for flooring material and tax, and I pay about $1.15/sf for carpet installed, on average.The supplier I use delivers to anywhere in the Atlanta metro area for a $75 trip charge.

Drive through Washburn on my trips when I go there.

FYI, over the years, we've also learned to save a lot of money wasted on excessive management labor costs (we call them "stupid trips") by planning the occasional weekend to drive down, inspect our units and address any labor-cost intensive items that we can do over a 3-day weekend. 

That is just the tip of the iceberg so to speak but usually tripping points for newer investors.