Now it's about your reputation, if your a naive person rip for the taking, or one who calls things as they are and has zero patience for BS. 

I'll start by saying this as a disclaimer:  a real estate agents opinion is NOT an appraisal, and a reputable (and regulated) bank or lender will require an appraisal. 

We work with several reputable contractors on all kinds of projects.

Can anyone give me 3-4 reputable GC contacts in the galleria area/Tanglewood of Houston for a property I own?

I recently applied Cabot stain to an old pressure treated deck in Maine and it looks much better and one coat makes water bead on the surface when it rains.If there is any wood rot or corrosion of the metal fasteners, then get three quotes from reputable carpenters for repair.

Our reputation for doing flips led to a referral for this property.

Even with a reputable property management company and visiting your parents often (using that time to also check on your investments), it may cause more headaches than needed when first starting out.That being said, relationships can make or break you in real estate especially when it is not something you do full time.

Looking for a reputable home inspector in St Louis MO.

I would hire professional, licensed, insured contractors with good reputations and that are familiar with insurance claims.

This company has a good reputation over multiple states.