Don't ask if they would recommend them---ask rather if they would HIRE them to do that job.Also, I like to go to my local Home Depot and ask the department head (ex: plumbing) about a particular project. 

You may be able to delay a little, but in order to achieve it, it will still cost you dearly in other departments, and the tax bill catches up eventually and may end up being more expensive in the long run. 

It will be nation wide as soon as the Department of Justice approves the settlement.Don't like it?

They didn’t go as strict as they threatened, at least not yet…https://www.atlantaga.gov/government/departments/city-planni...2 properties maximum and the first one must be  your primary home… so be prepared to move there and pay state income taxes  https://www.atlantaga.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/54610/6...you and your landlord will have to get this form notarized.Please just make sure you have a plan to keep making rent payments after your short term rental plans are banned.  

Maybe you can report the owner to Code Enforcement or similar department?

Reach out to their human resources departments and tell them about the special program you have for their employees (waived application fee, move in gift, etc.) 

Once you’ve identified a few good sites, check with the planning & zoning department.

I would call the zoning department, health department, and building department. 

There are departments that handle situations where brokers aren't doing their jobs.

To be honest, on over 100 building permits last year in the City of Chicago, with many of them having some form of enclosed porch, I think only 2 were ever mentioned by the Department of Zoning where they brought it up as a "Concern" which led us on a wild goose chase of finding and sharing information, overally causing unnecessary delay to the permit review process and eventually coming to a close (some positive, some negative).