Getting a handle on fix up costs

[Ronald H.]

I live in Saugus, Massachusetts and I have built up a Cash Buyer's list of Real Estate Investors. The list has not been tested, although, I do occasionally research what is going on around my area by using the Internet to see what transactions have recently occured. At one time, I had a database of sold properties with all the information I would need but now I am in the middle of an estate matter for my mother who had a stroke and appointed me P.O.A.

I know some contractors, although I do not know any of them particularly well. All these contractors want a fee in order to do an estimate.

What is the most efficient way of estimating fix up costs. I would go down to Home Depot and look at the cost of items down there but I probably would not be able to anticipate all the required materials that would be needed for any given repair since I have not been trained in this area.

Any help from someone who does this all of the time, would be extremely helpful to me. Thanks in advance.