Just looking ahead for after the completion of the remodel, does anyone have recommendations for a good property manager in the area?

That way you can save what you would pay in rent to continue building a portfolio.One thing I would note is that once you do build a portfolio government backed loans like FHA and VA start to give push back to continue buying.

Leverage a realtor ahead of time with the scope of work from the contractor to confirm what they would list it at and where they expect it to close.I would 100% restructure that payment cycle with the contractor.

Many folks that were losing homes literally stalled till the day before the sale then would go ahead and take some money and sign the deed we probably bought over 100 pre foreclosures this way.. 

I 100% agree, the photos put you way ahead of the competition.

With so many responses, I'm purposefully not talking to people ahead of the open houses - just sending my criteria and leaving it to them to opt out on their own, if they know they obviously won't qualify. 

Had a messy sale last year due to this, so just a heads up.Cheers

So I told them to go ahead with it.  

This estimated completion date has been continually pushed back, and now they say maybe April.

This follows the agreement but gives me that extra push .