Justin Pergo has a new laminate called outlast at Home depot it water , dog, kid resistance and you have 24 hours to remove spill and a limited life time warranty

I always make sure that properties that I look at have separate electric and water meters.

A few days ago, the tenants at a SFH contacted me saying they have no running water and the pump just kept running until they switched off the break.

I ask a number of questions like what is space rent, what are other expenses like garbage, water, and electricity.

(I'm licensed so have MLS access).Pretty easy stuff to do in the 'burbs.If I'm in a city or near water, I definitely ask local agents.

I have heard there are between 10-12 reliable companies that sell singles and pools of notes, but note sure what the companies are.

Many of these give sales pitches, gurus try to sell their products or mentoring programs, or someone tries to get you to invest in a REI Fund by a group of people pooling their money, for some REI and promising an unrealistic return.

Curtis Waters may be of help also.

If you can't live with them (or are concerned that tenants will keep you in hot water all the time) then don't buy. 

For example, things like a source of heat (furnace) in the wintertime, a working water heater, working plumbing/electrical systems, etc.