How to Vet a Lender - these are questions you should be asking lenders to vet them to make sure it will be a fruitful relationship How to build a long-term relationship with a lender - You want to grow your investing business, therefore you need someone to join you on the ride.

Also, what is the relationship between an investor and an agent?

I'd suggest building relationships with 2-3 PMs in your market and have them on standby so you aren't scrambling last minute if/when things start getting overwhelming

The money saved would allow me to better fund the rehab.Would appreciate opinions on forgoing a buyers real estate agent to represent me since I live there, know the market, and already have a relationship with the seller, have access to the property, etc. 

Next, I'd like to find a long-term lease and create mutually beneficial landlord-tenant relationships with owners, that also wouldn't mind me renting their properties as STR's.

What's y'alls method for interviewing and making relationships with the various contractors?

An agent that I had no relationship with drove to my house to "help" me.

Yeah most are going to overbid, in part because they are not lacking work at the moment, it is a long term relationship game, lower rate quality vendors generally rely on volume, so find a way to provide that either through direct work or referrals.

Hi @Jason Wiser, welcome to the BiggerPockets forums!  

It can take weeks or months to nurture a relationship with them and get them to want to sell.