Great job negotiating that price down, the garage conversion is likely the exact reason this has sat for a year.In many markets,(not mine) you actually lose value with a conversion because you've traded high-utility space (parking/storage) for low-quality living space that often feels like an afterthought.

Thank you.OWNERSHIP ENTITY- Obtain copy of deed to confirm legal owner- If domestic LLC, confirm annual registration is current & who can legally sign- If foreign LLC, confirm registered in Michigan (where we & property are) & who can legally sign- If Trust, get paperwork showing who can legally sign- Confirm city assesssor & water dept have correct owner & mailing addressPROPERTY- Confirm we are added to insurance policy- Confirm property taxes are current- Lookup public records for property data- Confirm rental license active- Confirm no outstanding permits, assessments, etc.- TakeOver Evaluation Video & Property Data Sheet, share video with owner for possible repairs- Per owner selections on our PMA, have tax docs, water bills, etc. mailed to us.TENANTS- Send tenant(s) Welcome Aboard Package with TakeOver Questionnaire (confirms occupants, pets, how long there, rent rate, security deposit, who owns appliances, etc.)- Review previous rent ledger for patterns to be aware of, note their lease in PMC software- Try to convert to our Lease, to make it easier on our staff (we don't tell tenants they don't have to do this)- Opportunity to renew/extend lease with increase?

Any recommendations on what qualities makes an agent a “good” agent to help with this? 

Hi Jessica,I think there are dozens, myself included, and many who now have construction loans outstanding.

If do ourselves, wondering if a quality handyman, basic management software, and resources for an OH lease and tenant screening framework would be sufficient. 

Location and the quality of the asset is the most important thing.

Office is tough unless you're building AA quality product4.

They were very understanding that I have the right to enforce payment of the outstanding rent (8 months).

The key is having a CRM that tracks where each lead is in the sequence so you don't lose track.For inbound I've found that networking with probate attorneys, divorce attorneys, and local REI meetups generates the highest quality leads even if the volume is lower.

Side by side is my preference to mimic some of the pros of single family homes/townhomes but those tend to sell for a premium so finding the balance between cash flow, neighborhood, and building quality typically comes down to personal preference and timeline as to the specific targets on those.BRRRR and value add as well if you are willing to put a little more active work into the investment.