Expensing vs Capitalizing

[Andrew Yu]

I have questions on whether I should expensing or capitalizing my costs on remodeling a property. I feel expensing is always a better option, since it deducts the overall taxable income to the most amount immediately. Capitalizing is using depreciation over time, when you sell the property, you have to recapture the accumulated depreciation. I feel capitalizing is a zero-sum game, basically you don't deduction overall if you sell. 

Correct me if I'm wrong. Sometimes I fix & flip immediately, sometimes I fix & keep as rental for a couple years then sell. What should I do here on my cost?