How you structure your seller conversations to actually get them to open upWhether a CRM is necessary early on, and which oneCreative financing opportunities people are finding off-marketWhat’s working today in this market — not just what used to workIf you’re consistently sourcing deals, I’d love to hear:- What channels produce actual contracts for you- Your monthly marketing budget (optional)- Mistakes to avoid-  Your #1 piece of advice for someone building a pipeline from scratchAppreciate any insight — trying to build a repeatable system instead of relying on luck or the occasional warm lead.Thanks in advance!

We sometimes rely on the letter of employment if its just the Nurse staying. 

To rely on your instincts, you must first feed them the proper information.General market knowledge is no longer sufficient.

I’m looking for a scalable solution I can set up once and rely on as my portfolio grows.

Hospitals don’t vet spouses, and every horror story I’ve seen with travel nurse rentals has come from the non-nurse half of the household.Income can come from either, but verify it.Some landlords rely entirely on the nurse’s contract letter — and that’s fine if they’re the sole payer.But if the spouse is contributing or working remotely, verify their income the same way you normally would.Bottom line:Screen both adults.Base income approval on whoever is actually paying the rent.Use the nurse’s assignment letter as proof of stability, not as a free pass for the spouse.It keeps things fair, consistent, and avoids the “I wish I would’ve screened the partner” headache that way too many landlords talk about.

Quote from @Diana Palavra: My specific questions for experienced flippers:The Process: Do you rely on your own "napkin math" to estimate repairs during the initial showing, submit the offer, and then bring in contractors for hard quotes during the inspection period?

Do you rely mostly on referrals, or something else?

We have a 10 year time horizon so we're OK with relying on appreciation, rent increases, mortgage reduction to improve our net return.    10 year projections look very persuasive.    

For your first flip, you must fully understand and budget for this potential issue.Red Flags ChecklistFor the General Contractor (GC):Delayed Quotes: Significant or repeated delays in providing you with bids and quotes.Poor Communication: Lack of responsiveness or reliable communication.Unreliable References: References that are difficult to contact, overly vague, or seem fabricated.Contractor & Project ManagementPre-Vetted GCs: Have a small list of multiple General Contractors ready to go before you need them.Active Oversight: Commit to visiting the property frequently—at least once a day, if necessary—to monitor progress and preempt issues.Financial & Deal FocusThe Deal-Killer: Be aware that the biggest hurdle in acquiring a property is often the seller's unrealistic price expectation.Conservative Estimation: You must be very conservative with your repair and renovation estimates.Don't Solely Rely on Others: Do not rely only on your contractor's estimates.Collaborate and Verify: Collect as much information as possible from your entire team to form your own final, conservative budget.Realtor Expertise: Your realtor should be a key part of your team, and they must be knowledgeable about the house-flipping business and local construction costs, (hands-on experience).Next StepsThe comment you made at the end of your original note is important and likely requires its own, separate discussion thread to give it the attention it deserves!

Instead of relying on someone's word, have something written that you can refer back to. 5.