There are stipulations like the time you have lived in the property, etc.

I see no stipulation that auction.com will inform you when the documents will be sent, so it looks like you better be ready to sign them within 2 hours , anytime, day or night.

Should I stipulate that I get to screen the certified technician?

Afterwards, with confidence gained, we'll probably individually delv into deeper waters.One of my partners has already been pre-approved for a loan up to 60k, with the stipulation being that the purchase be for no less than 50k.

If you pass this responsibility to the tenant, do you "inflate" the rent cost and pay water bill yourself or stipulate water as a deliverable with rent each month and nonpayment as a condition for eviction?

You might could put as a special stipulation in the purchase and sale agreement.

And here in Maryland , by law the contractor must supply the contract with a bunch of legal stipulations the State of Md requires .

In the contract stipulate one unit must be vacant upon closing?)

It will be important to their business to be able to address basic issues ASAP, so you may want to stipulate that they are responsible for such things. 

Although, as I stipulate, "someone's got to live there" and so it's not only the investor's appetite for risk but also the borrower's perspective on what is good.