I've read this in a few different books on real estate investing but also in the the same books, they say to find the best reputable tradesmen.

Can someone point in the direction of a great reputable contractor / handyman in the south jersey area ?

I’m looking for a reputable and licensed contractor for a gut rehab including permits and architectural plans, plumbing and electric in Chicago.

This is basically having them put their money/reputation on the line if they can't perform as another form of collateral.4.

@Arianne Craig Jolla Hi Ariannne, you can talk to local investor to see if there’s a general consensus among who is reputable.

GallozaWilsonart is a manufactured Quartz, it’s sold at HD and it’s much more damage resistant.

One of the tenants moved in May 2018, on a 1 year lease, to one of the units.Since tenant moved in, I had to replace the washer/dryer twice (with refurbished ones).I also replaced the stove & fridge, within the last year, with the advice of my property management company.I also hired a professional/reputable property management company to help manage the property and that aspect has been going well.In June 2019, the tenant had a flood in the kitchen and the laminate floor was damaged significantly.

If you know of any reputable insurance companies that cover properties in the NE Philly area, please let me know~I have heard that getting a general umbrella policy to protect myself in the case of lawsuits & exorbitant legal fees would be a good idea, if you have any input on that.I also plan to make renter's insurance a necessary item in future leases with new tenants as a way to further reduce personal liability, and to protect the tenant's personal assets with insurance coverage. 

@Carl Dieckmann You may want to check with your local manufactured housing association.

Referrals from reputable sources are always good but at the end of the day, you have to see how they work with you.