Based on many factors (location, condition of property, inventory, demand) it may be best to do the minimum. 

Ensure you really analyze the competition and that there is demand for 1/1 units in a rural area.

Filters I'd recommend:Equity, no reason to waste your time on properties folks can't sell at a reasonable priceProperty Type, most folks stick to residential, and often just single family homesEstimated Value, stick to a price range you can afford, and/or for which there is demand if you plan to flip or rentLocation, this is best way to control size of your list.

I shudder to think what those areas would be like if there was no Turn key or out of area rental property investor demand...?????

If so, here's how you can fight...Demand that real estate agents and, especially, brokerages you hire do not syndicate your properties to third-party sites like Trulia and Zillow.

I'm searching for recommendations for HVAC contractors and companies that are investor friendly and have experience converting ~100 year old central boiler buildings to individual furnace and AC. 

I hand wrote letters on their “free” printer paper, and individually taped them to mailboxes.

Of course this is all subjective to the individual and not one size fits all. 

Not much demand for renting someone else's back yard and roof deck.

. -- regarding issue as it relates to integrity of 1031 -- said indifferent about running business through parent or individual LLC, but assumes that the subsidiary LLCs are single member.