I guess trying to establish a team first and maybe that'll help dictate which market I finally land on.  

I am a painting contractor by trade and own a well established company.  

It will be easier when you have established relationships and have built trust over time.

Establish a precedent for your tenants so they know they cannot walk on you! 

Purchase price: $215,000 Cash invested: $50,000 Sale price: $379,000 Purchased home in established neighborhood, and over three years was able to go room by room refinishing the house.

Several articles were splashed which laid out stories about people returning back to the great city after hibernating in the suburbs for a few weeks and months and coming back because of hyper boredom and lack of access to shops and other establishments.

That might work better than buying an established one. 

Its one thing when your TruGreen professional established lawn service company puts a hanger on the door, but some shady dude that wants to offer me cash for my house?!

I’m just curious if anyone has some useful tips for getting established as an agent, especially someone who isn’t necessarily efficient in small talk, ie approaching strangers, talking about my business.

Its a trade organization that has established and published standards for basement repairs.