Hence we would like to prevent that from happening.Any suggestions are most appreciated.

Standard phrase --  "If plumber comes because toilet is stopped up and plumber pulls out tree roots, I pay for plumber. 

There is no doubt that a LOCAL with deep roots and big team can make these work long term...

I'm also looking to plant some roots, starting a family so good schools would be very helpful.Why Delaware?

It's worth putting gutters up not just to channel rain away from foundations, but also as a preventative for termites, and it's very much our next expense on a bunch of houses.Essentially, no gutters allows a nice continuous source of water for termites around the house, whereas gutters channel it to specific locations and in many cases away from the house.

This will mess up your Debt To Income ratio and can prevent you from buying another house if it skews that percentage too high.OK class, by now you should know if you CAN rent your home out or if you NEED to sell.

Our local geography also plays a part, the mountains and water limit the build-able land and prevent urban sprawl.

It is zoned and permitted for an 11 unit complex already - I've been toying with the idea of buying it myself - if nothing more than to prevent an 11 unit complex from going up in my neighborhood!!

How do I prevent him or subcontractors from placing a lien?

You don't want claims (especially large claims) on your record, this will help prevent this.