@Anna Christie what is the current property reputation like in the community?

Once you’ve built a good reputation and track record for investing, raising equity gets easier

I hate hearing stories like this that give my industry a bad reputation.

The buyer brought in a home inspector, who has reputation of knitpicking in our area.

Simply by searching online you can find a number of quality reputable national lenders.

Square off a drywall hole so you can patch it clean, cut open those hard-to-open plastic packaging for a new lockset you're installing...you can always use a knife.4.

Is there a website like HUD or Homepath that is more reputable that others?

Also consider that quickly replacing the unit helps to cement your reputation as a landlord.  

I always give clients the first shot at any deals that come across my desk, though, whether we have an agency agreement or not as to me the relationship, my reputation, and the potential to do many more deals with somebody over time is more important than any single deal.

Not terribly unlike a personality test for sponsors :) From an LP perspective, sponsors hold "the keys to the kingdom" but yet need to "sell" their deals, develop or protect their reputation, and compete in a competitive space, so I guess it's caveat emptor :)