Atleast until I get good enough / am comfortable enough to estimate ARV and rehab costs on my own.

Stay conservative to keep you from getting into hot water down the road.

If you don't get a warm fuzzy feeling while you're in the area stay away from it. 

Continue to educate yourself, stay committed, network2.

I’m a new investor in Tucson, AZ wanting to get into the flipping business to raise capital with the long term goal of investing into multi-family.Does anyone have any experience or recommendations in how to properly incentivize contractors to stay on schedule and meet cost targets?

I personally would try to use it for the next purchase if you are comfortable with that decision.Look at all sides of the coin.

Today my investors stay with me because of my ability to find them deals, my willingness to work as hard as needed, and to take their projects to completion.

Just my 2 cents...and I'll fully admit I'm only educated enough on this topic to be dangerous...definitely not an attorney myself...but I haven't received an answer I'm comfortable with from anyone on it yet either. 

It’ll come down to what your comfortable with as far as class of neighborhood.

Being military I like having full control of my assets and getting my hands dirty but the cost of travel around the country even with property managers is a big hassle however using a yurn key company like Roofstock , which is similar, I feel more comfortable with it.