For first flips better to start with a  small cosmetic rehab  until you get to know the process and the team well.

I just used my attorney as our registered agent, PO Box as our business address, and a separate LLC as the holding company. $50/ LLC and it literally takes less than 20 minutes for each LLC and costs less than $20/ yr. to renew each LLC.

Can you share the addresses of properties you have done deals on so we can learn and evaluate ?

Would that be, for example, if the PM says, "I manage a duplex for John Smith in Turlock," then I call John as a reference, ask John a few questions, and then ask John the address of his duplex so I can later look it up on the county website and verify if he is the owner?

I'd recommend having enough to close on the deal + rehab + $5k in reserve as a minimum. 

Or buy something that needs some love and some hard money lenders will fund up to 90-100% of the purchase and rehab.

Only a few simple documents are required, including a valid passport, birth certificate, and proof of address.

You're adding days to your rehab because your contractors are waiting on materials.So, how do you fix this?

I went through the tenant/landlord handbook a little while back, but I don't recall it specifically addressing that.  

You do not need to give out the address or contacts.