BP has wonderful information on real estate investing including free online courses and videos for you to watch and learn.

BP has free online videos and courses for you to watch and learn and also has it's own podcast in itunes.

This usually takes a couple of days to do if you send via a mail fulfillment service like click2mail or yellowlettermail.comYou can also then look for the owner's phone number and email address using online services like Whitepages, true caller, callersmart, pipl, thatsthem or a skip tracing service like Intelius or Unlimited Skip Trace.

You can buy decent stuff online for about what a few month's rental on furnishings will cost you (figure about $500/month to rent a 3 piece bedroom set, couch, loveseat, dining set, and a couple of lamps). 

Licensing info for every state is available to the public and in most cases is available online for free.

At BP, you can not only network with other real estate investors through the online forums, you can access the free videos and courses on this site!

Here are few tips on how to avoid this problem on your flips:1) Create a file folder for you flip (both electronically and in paper form), so you get and maintain the proper documents stated below.2)  Draft a summary general contractor (if you are the GC) plan or have your GC prepare a plan on what work will be done before you start it.3) Identify and create a list of all subcontractors that will be used.4)  Identify all materials that will be needed or used for your flip.5) Prepare all lien waivers for all subcontractor and materials either before the process starts (this is ambitious - but is a great idea)  or at the time of paying your subcontractors.  6) Lastly, get all lien waivers to your attorney prior to the actual closing.  

BP offers you to network with other investors and comment through the forums and also has free online videos and courses for you to watch and learn from.

I immediately got online and was hit in the face with hundreds of stories just like ours.

Not only can you comment and read the forums by other investors, you can also take the free online courses and watch the free videos on BP as well.