With investment property, there is a definite percentage of properties that are sold without ever been formally marketed.  

They are about to formalize the legalization of airbnb in one's main residence SFR, while banning it in R2 or above zones.

Some houses just don't fit into any formal rules we have at the moment.

Shirt and tie for an formal appointments.

I'm in Southern Oregon, and I have a friend in Portland, who says that up there, you have to accept the first applicant who meets your formal criteria.

San Diego city is in the process of formalizing their STR legislation. 

I have formal education and experience in residential construction, renovation and general contracting. 

Also ask direct lenders their opinion as they tend to have less formalities and fees than a bank.

What this exercise might find is:- Contractors willing to communicate and go through formalities of estimating- How hungry the contractor is for work- Which contractors answer your exercise most professionally - Which contractors go above & beyond with thier answers and their own past example work/portfolio- Which contractors accurately estimate material and/or laborOf course if they don't or won't reply, it could also mean they are too good and busy to jump through your hoops -- so they could be great contractors as well. 

They have relationships of varying formality with local corporations to place their transferring employees.