In addition, your costs normally over run on these smaller projects because the GC who handles the funds will need to protect themselves by building in a significant cost buffer. 

They would at least buy you time with the little things that could be handled remotely.

Does anyone have a recommendation of the best way to handle this or a reference you could spare?

But if you are handling this as a flip, just putting it in a list...Upgrades to the house since its purchase on August 2018:  paint living room, paint master bathroom, new kitchen counter, terracing yard with retaining walls, planting XX bushes and plants, adding drains to basement and yard, replacing living room lights, …The idea is to honestly market the house, identify the work, but do not focus on it. 

They got better tenants, dealt with all the leases and advertising, collected the rents, and handled the problems so we didn't get the 3am phone calls.

The time and effort involved with screening and background checks seems difficult to handle so far away.   

I'd try and just avoid this scenario by making them realize they didn't live up to the contract and offer them a little money to help them move.If you can't handle this with cash for keys then I would consult an attorney before filing an eviction and get their take on this.

Even though you tried to do the right thing by handling the situation, even though they refused to allow u in to take action, it might be viewed differently in the court of law.

Kris, “Giving up” isn’t the right thing to do, however making a sound investment decision is.Were your children or anyone to ask me some years later, what would you like said of your handling of the matter?

All of the best real estate investors diversify and handle a lot of out of state investments.