Obviously, there will be some rotten apples in the bunch, but that is inevitable with a platform this size.  

But, if I was forced to move somewhere, I guess I would head back to Apple Valley because I still have family in that area.  

I'm sure that sounds pathetic to some of you hyper-organized types, but I know myself.Is Pro status still an audit magnet if you don't take passive losses at all?

Make sure you tell them you are getting 3 different quotes, do not let them know who they are bidding against, but let them know it will be an apples to apples comparison. tell them you need prices for 1-3", 3-6" 6-10"& 12+ rates.  

Having a car magnet will doubtfully qualify a person as a REP; I mean you can claim qualifications based on this, but will it stand in case of an audit?

Here's what I generally pay (remember, this is my area, my contractors, etc, so it may not be apples-to-apples in your area):Water Heater plus Expansion Tank: $125 (done by plumber)Gas Range: $25 (done by plumber)Fridge Water Line: $15-25 (done by handyman)Dishwasher: $75 (done by plumber)Garbage Disposal: $50 (done by plumber)Built-In Microwave: $40 (done by handyman)Washer/Dryer, plus Venting: $25 (done by handyman)Oftentimes, my project manager will do most of these things, so it's actually free, but if I'm paying my contractors, this is about what I expect.

He actually conducted a full house walkthrough with me via Facetime, Apple's video conferencing app.

Contrast that with a "problem solving" approach investor that sees the opportunity to improve a community through updating comps, decreasing abandoned vacant properties, and still making profit (win win win.)There is still plenty of non-zero-sum scenarios down here, but I understand the negative perception; bad apples have spoiled the bushel.

All Wholesalers get an unfavorable reputation because of a few bad apples.

More often than none, you'll come across a few bad apples.