It needs some work though, so if anyone knows a reputable contractor, send them my way!

He wrote a check for $582 to the gutter co, then a $100 check to his supplier directly.

The biggest reason investors work with reputable turnkey property providers is because of a lack of time on their oart to be an "active" real estate investor.Lack of knowledge, experience, and contacts are other reasons investors work with companies like ours.  

She pre-screens her vendors and protects her reputation by holding her vendors to high standards.

When you're new and don't have a reputation, it's harder to get creative lending because you're a higher risk.

@Jamey Mako, I've been around a lot of these companies (as a supplier for turn key inventory).

I suggest you check out their website as they definitely have some knowledge in dealing with bad reputation of property managers. 

We are now looking to start purchasing buy and hold SFH and duplexes in Grand Rapids area and are in need of a reputable property management company?

It sounds like you may need to hire a management company, just make sure it is a reputable one as you don't want upset tenants.

Investing with a developer that has an established track record protects your investment in a number of ways because A) the developer is going to do their own research and they aren't going to go for a bad deal and B) the developer has an incentive to pay you back in order to protect their reputation.