2. questions to ask contractors to minimize risk of hiring sketchy workers? 

If you need to do any convincing, or pushing they are not motivated and a waste of my time.We rank #1 on Google for pretty much any keyword you can possibly imagine, and people that absolutely need/want to sell find my website, see how good looking I am and fill in the form.Because they are motivated we can get them for a severe discount, and still make the seller happy.Win for everyone.

Schooling isn't as good in those rental areas and family is not to keen on having neighbors that close for the minimal time housing hacking takes.

I have been a little shocked that about half of what I got is telling me I am wrong or that what I have already done is a waste of time. 

Should we put in a clause in the contract that the garage is not included to minimize my risk? 

Just don't want to waste time looking at a home that was listed and sold months ago. 

Hey Steve, I highly advise against mailers and texts, they hardly work and are a big waste of time.

Being a newbie I couldn't beexpected to know much, and I also don't wantto waste this guy's time or more importantlywaste a very good opportunity.

Have a few clients that have them and for some they have been a complete waste of money and others they have gotten very large payoffs, largest one was a complete basement remodel/boiler.   

I know that getting conventional mortgages have way more favorable terms than commercial loans and that the “protection” of holding the properties in the LLC are pretty minimal.