Depending on a given area it may be difficult to find contractors. 

It really depends on what you are looking for and the type of investment that would be best for you, given your current investment goals, tax needs, etc.  

If you mean to legally acquire the property after the tax sale that depends on the rules in the state you are investing.

In addition, depending on where you buy the schools could be pretty well rated.  

A lot of this will depend on the condition of the property, which we don't know.  

Depending on what type of area you are interested in buying.

Normally the seller is supposed to direct all transactions through their realtor, but it all depends on the contract they have with each other

Depending on your fiduciary duty, that will tell you where to go next.

Some repairs are considered normal wear and tear, eg. depending the length of the tenancy you might not be able to charge for painting the interior of the house, cleaning (or even replacing) the carpet.

That all depends on what your appetite is.