If your not shopping you loan I feel you arent doing your job as an investor. 

Depending on how the water is getting in, there may be cheaper methods for sealing the basement walls from inside.Keep shopping until you find someone trustworthy with solutions.I would also consider going after the first contractor because they robbed you.

Here are some tips.#2  MINDSET:  Just like some people will NEVER become real estate investors regardless of time, money, related profession, - MOST people will never become real estate investors.   

Let’s swap some stories and tips in the comments.

Does anyone have any tips on how to find the right guys or methods that you use to vet people? 

One (that I only know through IG but follow due to the great tips she gives) is LaunchedHost.

One more tip – people remember stories that trigger their emotions.

The MN statutes are all readily available online, and will be easily found via a google search.

Often pretty quickly....see something online at 1pm and I'm meeting you there at 2pm to see if we can lock it up before someone else did. 

RW discovered that most clients shop with a "what are the monthly management fees" approach and not a "what are all of your revenue streams" approach.RW competes with a very competitive flat monthly management fee but then charges a minimum of 1 full month's rent for leasing and a host of other fees.