I develop a high level scope of work and then make my own estimates for each item.

To replace the roof on a home with solar panels, to maintain the solar panel warranty, you will need to use their company to remove the panels, store them safely during roof work, and then use their company to replace the panels and make sure they are working again.

We reigned in the budget for some painting and minor handyman work .. and she obliged to our budgetary restraints .House is being shown as we speak.

We run, at the very minimum, prelim title work and avoided anything that even remotely looked like it could be too large of a roadblock.We lost money once, very very early on by trying to scale by using a component servicer (we had a legal servicer, but this was a workout specialist) who was NOT functioning in our best interest at all.

A prudent investor doesn't seek quick riches through shortcuts.

I actually prefer if they were already gutted (less work and expensive for me). 

I prefered two or three more years that I can work and save money to buy a house ( $300k) and car (30k) with cash.

You need to be extremely thorough with your scope of work, and unfortunately the sun porch was not salvageable, but fortunately the contractor helped knock it out of the park and the home looks amazing now!

A prudent investor doesn't seek quick riches through shortcuts.

I guess the leg work and he fact of being remote scares me, but so does any investment!