I've been hanging out on the lower end as far as inputs...

Hang out there at different times of day

I have always approached any type of sales position with the goal of becoming ones friend and advisor to genuinely help the client on their pain points and solve their problems.Due to my lack of personal experience right now asking questions like "are you aware if the title has a lien on it" etc are not natural to me yet and I need to form some type of structure at first to ensure that I do not go through a call thinking everything is great and I have touched all the points only to hang up and realize I didn't ask them how much in repairs they think the place needs, or how old the furnace is etc.

It is a monthly fee that some companies charge for agents to hang their license with them.

Better yet, get the delayed financing preapproved before you even close on the cash purchase, that way if something will hang it up you have advanced notice and aren't "accidentally" stuck with all your capital tied up.

I hang up on the agent once he asked for upfront fee.

One young guy, in early 30s somehow schmoozes his way into her life and starts hanging out at her apartment (a duplex unit in a group of four duplex buildings).

Maybe we could hang out to learn aboout REI and on the future do business together. 

Many of them won't have that kind of hang up, especially if the purchase price is higher than your original unit. 

For tile you can go hang out at your local floor retailer.