Furthermore, an investor friend who has a real estate license told me that not having a license can be beneficial for RE Investor because you can "lie" to the seller.Once you have a real estate agent license, you have to follow their rules.  

Here's a good website, check out Number 3 in particular: https://www.abodo.com/blog/landlord-renter-scams/"The law of tough renters bounds them to lie a lot and over time they grow quite proficient at it"

Some listing agents, once they get the PA, they just roll over on repairs and say "Oh, just replace the roof and do these 20 other things...it's the best option"...and they say that because it costs them $0- THey show up to appraisals with information to push the appraisal through as appraisers are lazyON BUYING SIDE: - They can sniff out when a listing agent is playing coy or trying to white lie about things "oh, I should have 3 more offers coming in, better get your offer in." 

You may learn that the real issue lies with the tenant as well as what the dog is doing.  

In that scenario they would only owe you the the duty of good faith and honesty, which basically means they will 100% pursue the best possible deal for their client so long as they dont lie to you. 

I don't want to sit here and judge your contractor because I don't know them but is it possible that they're lying to you in order to get you to spend more money?

My passion lies in administration, the processing of the deal, and the organizing.

@Max Valdes Keep hope alive......Numbers don't lie my friend.  

As far as plumbing damage if the plumber determines it was the tenant putting paper towels etc in the toilet or chicken bones in the garbage disposal, the tenant pays for the damage.

Math don't lie.