A PM is an intermediary and their business is NOT refurb/rehab and if you elect to use one, they'll just smile and proceed without concerns other than you pay the bill.a) network with friends who have remodeled recently to get names and first had references - - one of these are work 10x any website review.b) learn as much as possible about what you WISH to be done vs what actually NEEDS to be done (ie know the needs vs wants problem we all have) as there's lots of cash between them.c) read up on contractors bid process in your state, the allowable deposit and how to make progress payments.d) set a completion date with penalties for missing it.e) a contractor must have a license; verify and find complaints. f) must have liability insurance and be bonded (this protects  you from him just walking away).

The umbrella is gonna be in the ball park of $500/year and a small price for the protection.  

@John Arendsen, if I understand your posting, you're looking to invest in crowdfunding sites, but not as a typical investor but as someone who sits on the board.There are about 20 sites that I would consider to be investment quality, and the remaining 80+ are fairly poor for one reason or another (in sufficient volume, none of experience, poor investor protection, etc.). 

Individually.Are the tax benefits same for rental properties held individually vs. in an LLC.Is umbrella insurance recommended for individually held rental properties.Does the umbrella insurance give the same liability protection that LLC's have.

I prefer large full framed vehicles that offer the max in occupant protection. 

We prefer a "mid-sourced" model, bringing in local expertise where experienced local knowledge is key: for example Property Management, Contractors, Real Estate Agents, etc.

I only have about 15-20k I can use to invest, so I need to figure out how to get creative financing.Maybe you could consider joint ventures with homeowners who don't want to sell to wholesalers but don't have the money to do repairs themselves.I don't mean major repairs but just optimizing the appeal for a retail buyer.Once you agree on an as-is price near what a wholesaler would offer you could lock it down with sales contract.Then a joint venture contract could be drawn up that protects both parties.You would not be looking for distress sales because the homeowner needs to be able to keep paying the mortgage and has to have enough funds to move out before the work is completed.You would have to be selective about the owner and be confident they can fully understand the process and that they can pull it off. 

LLC liability protection can be rendered invalid by a variety of mistakes one could do.     

I also wanted to ask does anyone use special kind of leases with the section 8 tenants to protect themselves from certain things?

A borrower who files bankruptcy has protections under the bankruptcy law for debt collections.