@Rodney Miller My partner and I recently used RCB Bank, I am pleased with the rates we were able to obtain and the process was really smooth. 

A short sale I purchased recently went rather smoothly:  The seller had to pay $16k and the bank agreed to a pretty low sales price.  

Prior to putting in offers on places, what are some recommended steps to take to make sure the deal and buy and hold experience goes as smooth as possible?

They will know people at each bank and have relationships that can really make one go smooth or which ones to just stay away from.Good Luck!

I’m looking for step-by-step checklist of things to do to make the move go smoothly.

You happened to pick two of the few places where the charts are not as smooth.

We wrote up a contract and scope of work and began and for the first few weeks, things were going smoothly then he hits me with a change order 3 weeks in, which I hear is very typical, so I didn't think much of it and gave him the money for the pertinent items on the change order.

New flippers end up coming to me after they bought some smooth talking, great numbers touting wholesaler shop and they got taken. 

So there could be some natural bias towards making the deal go smoothly if the referral comes from the TK company.That said, so far the TK company has been very receptive to my desire for independent inspection/appraisal, so no red-flags yet.Maybe I'm just being paranoid -- first deal jitters, etc.

Try to make the process as smooth as possible.Clear communication and appropriate follow-through is key.