where to start can also depend on the time of year and length of flip.  

You may find some interesting tidbits that may make you want to discard their advice and keep them at arms length.  

If you have been in this business for any length of time all that takes is a quick look.  

I'm looking for the Better Business Bureau, length of time in business, and online presence in respectable publications.

Home Depot and Lowes stocks what you would need, cut it to length yourself and put some edges on it as required.

I'm out on a one year sabbatical with my wife and two small children, traveling the US in a vintage Airstream visiting national parks and other places.I've thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail and cycled across America, and in the future I'm aiming to one day paddle the length of the Danube River and sail around the Americas. 

Why wouldn't the bank want that $10k in THEIR pocket rather than in the pocket of some dodgy less-than-arm's-length profiteer go-between?

They are also going to provide services to their residents to increase the length of stay and reduce both turnover and inflated maintenance issues.If you truly want to reduce your risk, the most important this you will do will have less to do with buying in multiple cities and more to do with building the strongest team possible that adhere closest to what you value most in your investment.  

PS: Any agent who wants to stick around for any length of time in their market won't work with people who just toss offers at the wall.

Are there arms length considerations?