Be sure you are complying before hiring someone who does not legally operate in that space. 

I don't spend much time on the forum any more....when I stopped it had become a big "bash VRBO" frenzy and I got tired of people using Homeaway's (VRBO's) forum to bash the company that created it.Not to mention that I was one of the people involved with the creation of that forum and hated to see it deteriorate from a place where people could come together to share ideas, help each other and communicate directly with the staff at HA/VRBO to the negative space it had become.But, their tools are still helpful!

My focus is mainly in the private wealth (ultra high net worth individuals, family offices, and investment partnerships) and private equity space providing tax compliance, planning, and advisory services.

I’d be in a position to swope like a hawk if I saw an once of space.

My family (parents and I) would like to purchase our first home primarily for more living space and with the assumption that in the long game, a home [and the land that comes with it if it's a single family property' will only appreciate especially in the southern california area where the population is already dense.I've heard on one episode of the real estate podcast that we should have exit strategies - the property should be able to be a rental, be flipped, or one that we are fine with living in until the market is at a good place where we'd like to move onto a new home.What strategies would you advise a first-time home buyer in buying their first home - do you use a checklist?

I would also insulate the heck out of the space while you are down there (I'll assume this a crawlspace) just to be on the safe side.

Doing that was the only thing that has reduced the smell, so I'm 99% sure the smell is not coming from the finished space. 

What about office space?

In my experience the first few properties tend to be spaced quite far apart time wise and then as you acquire cash flowing assets and the confidence that comes with experience, the speed of acquiring additional properties increases.

You want to start by educating yourself on the space itself, types of properties and markets your interested in developing In.