@Carl Fischer has some good basic tips to choose a provider.

I like the tip in here to do a small increase every 6 months to ease them into it and make sure they're prepared. 

The utility company said that they will take care of tree removal and fixing utilities, but they don't know when.  

With that said, while moving out might have been the best thing you could have done for your own emotional health, that doesn't mean your LL has to "eat" your moving out with little or no notice. 

Would anyone care to participate in such a gathering?  

I was wondering if some people could give me a few tips on how to start this process.

Filling in the gaps between contractors will eat you up unless you find someone to take care of that.

I would purchase the house at a price where you factor in the cost of replacement; then take care of it immediately.

Why would you make more repairs out of pocket to someone that obviously doesn't care... plus she doesn't have the funds to move, where is she getting the funds to make repairs to the roof.She should just move, take the LL to court to recover the previous out of pocket expenses that she made if they are something the LL should of.

Keep in mind the vast majority of tenants are irresponsible.I personally would never invest in a SFH as a rental however providing you are prepared to leverage 80% and reinvest the profits this property for the time being is a worth while keeper for you.Tenants will beat the h*ll out of it so decide if it is long term and you don't care or sell in a couple of years before there is too much reno work to be completed prior to selling.