So when I need a new admin for the advertising business I own, I place an ad for a $10/hour entry level position and I get 100 resumes from kids who just graduated with a degree in speech communications, or marketing & PR, or some other BS degree (says the guy with a philosophy degree), and they're $100K in debt and no idea how they'll ever get out of it. 

Get in the network and the deals will come, but be patient it takes years to earn trust and create a network.

Trust the process.

Find someone locally (via BP or local REIA meetings) that you trust and that has similar values / goals as you. 

If you have connections with good vendors that  you trust, then you can easily manage it yourself. 

I’d need to know I can trust the broker, the attorney (or is it a notary?)

If it's a very low level task (ie: demo) hire some college kids to help around $8-$10/hr.   

High level process overview:Put the property under contract with the owner.

This takes time and ultimately a requirement to trust there judgement.

The title company can do the deed of trust or land contract  whichever you prefer costs are passed on the the value of the property and the escrows companies fees I would think a minimum of $500-600 call around and check prices You can ask the buyer to pay the escrow fees