Do your homework and find a reputable company and this can be a great starting point.The second question is the type of funds used to buy properties.

For your first deal, I think any reputable lender will want you to have some money in the deal, regardless of LTV.

No, the only reliable way to avoid this particular hustle is if you know something about furnaces, have someone who knows something about furnaces on your payroll, or have carefully worked to build a long-term relationship with a local reputable HVAC outfit, typically over years.

Are there reputable companies out there that provide a service like this?

In MA, so used to erring on the side of caution, but really this is an integrity of business issue.BTW bedbugs can be on clothes so the tenants can legitimately claim all those folks in and out of the house might have brought them in.On a practical note, reputations stick and I’d hate to be dealing with inspectors, zoning etc. on other projects if this was known widely.An apology and a check (less than they are suing you for)and immediate action to repair their credit might go a long way here.This is what I’ve heard trial lawyers call “a bad set of facts”.

In fact, someone else has offered $1.5M or $50,000 more than me but because of my reputation, the seller preferred to deal with me.I put in $700,000 in renovation and increased the rents from $500-$550/unit to an average of $679 per unit.I sold the building 3 years later for $3.5 Million.Another "rule" that I violated and made money anyway is "Properties in bad areas don't appreciate".

You probably do buy out of state with a reputable hands on company like @Chris Clothier.

I suggest that you get a VA from reputable agencies.

Have your agent submit the offer, just for your own reputations sake.

I received an estimate from a reputable company but I need more estimates.