I would also advise doing your own inspection of the property to make sure that everything that they say is being done is actually completed and to code and that there shouldn't be any surprise maintenance costs at the beginning.  

If you are buying in a more metro area, there will be lots of choices.In our area, we are quite rural and I couldn't guarantee that I would find the resources to do setup completely remotely.

Just ensure to complete necessary due diligence - this can include, but is not limited to, title search, property inspection, appraisal and/or survey. 

Determine at what percentage of completion you'll pay for work done. i.e.

There are really great REI opportunities in different markets - markets in the Midwest and Southeast of the country are particularly lucrative - where not only are the purchase prices reasonable for most RE investors, but the homes are turnkey (new builds or completely rehabbed homes, tenant ready, systems 10 years of life remaining on them, property management teams in place) with appreciating home value AND appreciating rent.

To find value on residential 1-4 unit properties you could ask your realtor to run comps or complete a CMA(Comparative Market Analysis) on a subject property once you find it.or you can find the value on your own.We use prop stream to run comps. 

To be completely 100 with you, I don't know if you are aware or not, but Rent To Retirement advertises some of their new construction homes on my Investment Properties For Sale Show.

I completely understand, but most people are clueless as to what you are saying.. 

We have completely gutted all homes and old infrastructure.

Even with a completed sale often times you might need/want to pay a lawyer to do a quiet title action to quell any possibly attempts to reverse the sale by an interested party.