I plan on using one of the lower down payment options 3.5-5% as well but whether it's FHA or a conventional first time home buyer loan, I'm still researching that.I went to a few in person meetups prior to Covid as well and found them very useful, but then things shut down right as I was starting to get comfortable in them.

Another tip I have is reaching out to local churches and community centers.

Most municipalities have landscape requirements and they are often tied to how many trees have been removed.The city of Jacksonville has shut down its recording systems for the rest of the year.  

I am trying to find my next gig after the plant I worked at recently shut down. 

Falls Church?

If the gas is the heat source I'm thinking you can't just shut it off.2.

I would strongly recommend against turning on the homes heating system as you will get all the dust, debris etc. within the new system which can have a big impact on the system.Temp heat is the best way to go, which sometimes it is just still too cold and you may just have to shut the project down for a few days or weeks.

Also, info on loss prevention employed at the site (alarms, utilities shut off, fenced property, locked, visually inspected regularly, etc.) will help them in the search.  

I know there are cities that are starting to shut down on STR.

You need to find out the root cause of what happened, did the utilities get shut off, if so was it before or after the PM was there.