I paid a contractor 20k upfront and he did work without obtaining permits and then did a runner.

I'd put a nice carpet runner up the treads, it will protect the treads and should be fairly cheap; pick a good wearing but modern pattern/color for the carpet.

I would only 'reject' if they are in a 'runner up' situation, otherwise I don't worry about it.

The runner-up was Rottweilers at 9%. 

I haven't signed up for a mentoring program but am highly considering 2-3 programs and Phill's one of the runners up.  

Refinish and add a runner - a cheap one if it's a low dollar house, maybe a little nicer if it's nicer. 

however you might learn some aspect as a runner, gopher or assistant for a real estate investor or appraiser, for example.

I have to the story before of when I started and the first foreclosure I every walked in had the floor covered completely in yellow letters, business cards & flyers.So with that said the simple solution is to switch the list you mail to absentee owners may be the runner up, You have probates since very few people like to put in the work to pulling the list from the clerks office.What list are you mailing too?

I'm an avid runner and cyclist, so even if I move, I'd always like to keep a place in the Bay Area.

Many drafters do their own expediting : some have runners. ( I would get the ones that do a-z ) you don't want to be the one talking to the city... they speak another language