I know that's a harsh assessment, but don't soil your reputation locally.  

Any QI of good repute can handle your exchanges.  

Go ahead and find a reputable general maintenance company that you can work with on the general stuff.  

Reputation is very valuable in this network based, community of note traders.

Have you thought about speaking with a local reputable wholesaler?

Using the card for a few small purchases each month and paying the balance in full will continue to build your scores.You can get plastic even earlier if you have some cash to make a deposit on a secured card.

Our hope is to connect with someone talented and reputable ASAP so that they can give us quotes as soon as our inspection is completed this coming Monday, for work to be done after closing.The duplex is a 2 story home with full attic & partially finished basement built in 1820, so depending on what we hear from the inspectior we may be in need of someone with experience working in historic/older homes.At the very least we know that the two units will need cosmetic work; new floors, counters, cabinets, appliances, tile & paint.

Our hope is to connect with someone talented and reputable ASAP so that they can give us quotes as soon as our inspection is completed this coming Monday, for work to be done after closing.The duplex is a 2 story home with full attic & partially finished basement built in 1820, so depending on what we hear from the inspectior we may be in need of someone with experience working in historic/older homes.At the very least we know that the two units will need cosmetic work; new floors, counters, cabinets, appliances, tile & paint.

Lessons learned: Don't buy out-of-state without seeing the property yourself (no matter what online due dilligence you think you can do), and don't listen to shiny and supposedly reputable podcast celebrities like Kathy Fettke.

Reputation is everything in this business.