Etc....... there are about 10 duplex’s before mine and they are all alike (townhouse kind of styled)....MY duplex starts the next set and there are about 10 of ours as well (side by side styled) across the street and the rest of the neighborhood are alllllllll single family homes that are pretty nice and well maintained.So I recently cut down a pine tree from my front yard that I felt like was just a hassle due to the pines that it dropped leaving a constant mess...I bought a Japanese maple tree to put in place of where the pine was and some small shrubs to fill the middle of the duplex and the sides.....The duplexes I mentioned that were BEFORE me all have small trees alike and all are maintained by some landscaping company and from mines down all pretty much have PINE trees.

For example, if one partner wants to invest $20k in landscaping, and one does not, who makes the final decision and who pays for it?

This will be a rental so we want to save money down the road on water and monthly landscaping if possible!

For condominiums where the association pays for landscaping, yard work, etc - what is a good, quick way to estimate expenses?

It has changed the landscape.

The only immediate repairs/upgrades that are needed are gutters, pitch the landscaping away from the house, and painting the garage (being required by the city for the rental inspection). 

This has included ALL of the landscaping and gardening they did in the back yard.  

I am going to start a significant remodel of my house in Santa Monica and wanted to maximize all possible rebates, grants or energy rebates that are available for new roofs, windows, appliances, insulation, landscaping..ect.I have a basic list (local municipality and appliance rebates) but didn't know if there was anything that I was missing or didn't know about...possibly other agencies?

I take photos that show every angle of landscaping, home, driveway, fencing, etc. 

Usually, the higher ones tend to be anything with the plumbing/sewer and landscaping.