Any recommendations on a particular person to work with, keep shopping around, or just stick with the guy my buying agent recommended? 

Be sure to spend a lot of time upfront lining up your GC/trades, they can be challenging in the mountains and many front range guys won't make the trip.

I understand I would shop around for a few plumbers and not pick the first one I called but I just feel like all they are going to say is call us when you actually have a property that needs work.

Here is a thought, if you take cash show the income  on your taxes .I carry a umbrella I have seen cons and pros on both .For a small shop umbrella seems to be the right fit.

I'm going back home next month and hope this trip gets me a foot in the door.

Start shopping well before your sale and have multiple trusted bird dogs looking for you.4.

No two loans are the same, which is why I would always suggest shopping around lenders, or get yourself a broker. 

I just did that recently for a vacant house not far from me.When I researched the owner I saw she had an insurance office right next to the barber shop I go to.  

Running out of batteries means that I have to take a trip out to the unit, and I hate taking trips out to my units.

If the surface is raised more than 1 inch difference between sections,, then it's a trip hazzard and they would replace the entire section, or cut out I will say if the city does the work they contract with cement guys and they do it at a better price than what you could probably do yourself.