Anyone who thinks they are getting a great deal by hiring a " handyman , laborer , or anybody that is working on the side "  You are taking a great risk with your investment , someone gets hurt on your job and it falls back on YOU .  

How have you addressed this requirement without hiring an in-state property manager?

Why would seller hiring a different broker invalidate any of that protection to the original broker?

CA is a state that companies with remote workers who have CA clients avoid hiring in because of the draconian taxes on employers.

So house has "cost" me 2 grand and I get $1300 a month rent, which will appreciate.OR I could buy virtually the same house for 150K, struggle to get it to appraise for that, and have no equity.My first tenant may be at $1500 but after first turnover it will go to $1400, then 2 years later it will be at $1325.I know which one makes financial sense........

I would hire your own exterminator to do an inspection.

With the resources and network I have I can offer a virtually hands-off acquisition and get you set up with sourcing, acquisition, design, staging, and management of a short term rental here.

For anyone that has hired an employee to do your own construction work (1099 or regular) how do you handle contractor liability insurance?

I've never seen a compliant LO transaction come across my desk and if it's not compliant, it's a virtually risk-free transaction for the tenant / purchaser. 

Mine is under a virtual mattress in a money market.