I get an invoice from the title insurance company that lists the cost for an owners policy and a sellers policy.  

dang..

I guess my fear is if I send an invoice today, I'll grt paid next month where the project is already finished.

Dang  11 hour flight at $1,100 to collect $700 rent. 

. - I'll leave the CPAs to the CPA question, but one thing I should point out:In the future, and for the lurkers, keep all your invoices for those one-time repairs and see if you can get your CPA to put them on Line 19 "See Statement X" and itemize out the repair expenses line by line to match dollar for dollar what is on those invoices.

Id prefer to not scan invoices so if I cant find a phone app that works I plan to just take pictures and save them on my computer.

He simply paid for renovations up front at the closing table and updated the HUD to reflect by providing the invoices for the rehab.

As an operator, DIY labor can not be deducted ( irs says your time is worthless ), whereas the entire invoice (parts+labor) are deductable.

Some contractors weren't great about writing detailed invoices so in some cases all I have is a large check written to 'roof guy'.So.... question: is there alot of scrutiny from the IRS as to how you determine the basis?

All you have to do is create the invoices in QuickBooks- Reports by Owner or Property in summary and detail.