My first thought would be finding contractors who do great work in the midwest or any other area where the price is reasonable and fly them to where the property is located.

That doesn’t always happen, so you’ve just gotta assess potential problems on the fly.

@Lisa Hoover thanks Lisa, I appreciate you response.

If the realtor did, comparing single-family homes to small multifamily may not fly. 

My father is a recently retired tradesman and has offered to fly out to help with the rehabs/vet contractors etc...The act fast criteria are definitely a Unicorn that you seize the minute you see it.

Manly in terms of the time management and flying out to the prospective cities.For example...How often did you travel to explore prospective neighborhoods?

Builders are quoting 125 to 175 for 1 bedroom with loft which fly off the sale shelf and go pending in 24 hours here. 

If he's a tired landlord or motivated in any way, it may fly. 

I owe a huge debt of gratitude to every fly-by-night post-today-gone-tomorrow type who has ever posted in these forums, and the few newcomers who bear up and go the distance despite the difficulties.

Making decisions on the fly and not wanting to "sour" the relationship will only train your tenant the wrong way.