As you're filling your head with all this information, attend some local REIA meet-ups and get to know some people in the industry. 

For example I'm the type of person that if something is explained to me I will most likely understand and can process the information and ask questions to fill in the blanks where I may not fully understand.

It is close to the East Coast and California is a 4.5 hours non stop flight from here, (Close to major cities (Chicago, Atlanta, New York, Denver).  

I went through this great building that needs minimal work (sub $10k)...only issue is when you drive up to the front of the building the street is filled with people just "hanging around".

How long on average does it take you to fill a vacancy?

I have my section 8 class at 10 am to 1130 am on that day and my flight out isn't until 7 pm.

My mother finally called me and filled me in on the situation and wants her gone!

I have a couple vacant lots to fill.

Landscaping: fill the two front beds with low maintenance shrub roses (not fancy tea roses, just the short shrubby kind that grow a few feet tall at the most and do not mind neglect), edged by creeping Juniper.

As to if you pay, if you think it will help you patch bridges to pay, go ahead, but be upfront, you can go like this, "I have to get 3 bids due to amount of work, but I'm willing to pay 200 for you to fill this scope sheet per line item regardless if you get it or not" -- if it were me, I could get away with "our policy needs to get me...." --.