I do not like to shortcut when it comes to agreeing with someone about a deal.

I find that if I figure out who personally has a vested interest in getting the bank's job done, and maintain communication, you pick up your shortcuts along the way.Have you consulted a RE attorney on the matter?

To some extent this is something that NADA does not push nearly hard enough and to some extent far too many people try to shortcut and do not read all of the instructions in the yellow books and almost never get the optional, and separate, training.I have been using these books for years as a lender with great success, and I, and others, have trained people working for me how to use them correctly.

If you go the route of un-licensed contractors and short-cuts, and do a lot of rehab, then the inspectors will find out about you in a bad way.

They are seen as shortcuts or circumvention to equities which are afford either through law or through interpretation of function of the contracts themselves.  

I have been jumping through the podcasts haphazardly.

If you need ANY shortcuts on fixing or makinganything presentable, dont hesitate I guarantee I have a solution!

Not looking for any shortcuts, just want to be as efficient with my time as possible.

-My landlord doesn't hires the cheaper labor and I have seen shortcut taken for the other repairs. 

There are no shortcuts and you are going to have to take personal risk on in order to get anything done in REI.