The document is pretty explicit with contingencies should anything go sideways along the way though so this helped a lot to keep everyone on task. we've built rapport at this point since we've been in constant communication from when we started but in the beginning, it was a lot of trust in the document.

You have trusted contractors that are charging a fair price ? 

TRUST ME!

It really comes down to your goals and time commitments.Airbnb margins have been getting tighter and it is extremely time consuming.

I don't trust them and it so much more reliable to take a few minutes and look at your real competition to set pricing. 

Since he does closings, I trust his work.

during the 2000s before the crash we got up to about 3 mil a month in lower balance high profit loans and were between 30 to 40 mil out.. we originated all our own loans.. do not trust brokers all my worst deals came from them.. this took about 12 people..

If you can't trust anyone in Portland, then that's a whole issue... 

First you have to face the local municipalities & will be extremely difficult to get the zoning approved. 

With regard to renovations, I always suggest taking incremental steps to bigger renovations or partnering with someone who has already done a renovation at that level.I've been known to just go for the big rehabs for my personal investments here in Chicago , and during that process, it's always more stressful than it needs to be...As far as navigating the competition, I've found the best thing I can do is get EXTREMELY CLEAR  on what I am looking for; then I am confident pulling the trigger quicky.