Just make sure you pull permits for any work, make sure every trade has liability insurance, AND that they either have workers compensation OR sign a release of liability for worker compensation.

Depending on the exact situation (including the answer to the question @Anthony Rosa raised), the courts may or may not permit you to collect rent from the tenants while they are in possession.

Do I need a permit”When you do open houses, even if they aren’t interested in your listing, they could find you very useful and use you in the future. 3.

In talking with my contractor, who has been doing this for 30+ years, he is asking me not to involve the city as far as permits, when I suggested that want all necessary permits pulled prior to starting project. 

Can anyone recommend a good GC that can pull permits in the city and is investor-focused?

If the county doesn’t show the conversion you have a can of worms in terms of un-permitted work, I’ve seen the county require the work to be re-done under permit.

Is anyone familiar with the zoning rules in neighborhoods inside the permitted around converting a single family home to a duplex?

I hope your designs are already done and submitted for permits.

It appears that government-backed mortgage entities such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac now permit short-term rentals as of April 2019, so long as you don't turn the property over to a management company or timeshare company.https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/second-home-rider-rewrite-11555599871https://therealdeal.com/2019/04/19/fannie-mae-issues-ruling-on-renting-newly-purchased-second-homes-on-airbnb/amp/

I produce drawing sets for permit on a regular basis.