I appreciate you taking the time providing quantifiable facts.

I believe in most markets, a real, quantitative answer to this type of question is achievable.This seems like a pretty basic thing to try and determine, but if you look at it more thoroughly, you see that it's very difficult to place a real value on appliances.The only way that you could realistically quantify this is by taking a very large apartment complex (100+ units) with apartments that have same or very similar finishes and layouts, other than some have stainless appliances and some have white or black.

If you are paying utilities and can quantify a savings it is up to you.

You could do it in an equity structure, but that means you have to quantify the value of your contributiuons, i.e. finding the deal and managing the property.

This way the cost seg provider can help quantify existing assets, retire them, and then cost segregate the replacements.

Domenic, I've never quantified things as exactly as I think you're asking for when I've done comps, though I think appraisers do use more of that kind of precise adjustment.I'm sure this answer will frustrate you, but doing comps is unfortunately, at least in my experience, as much an art as a science.I usually focus on trying to get the comps as close as possible on the dimensions that matter most to buyers/renters.

Can you quantify how much return you're getting for these investments?

Syndicating in a major metro tends to make investors feel more comfortable about placing capital and quantifying risk.Multifamily you typically need about 80 to 100 doors to be able to employ a full time repair person on site for these older buildings.Frankly the sellers and listing brokers are looking for unsophisticated buyers trying to buy out of state and also 1031 buyers with short fuses.

@Brian Burke  I came to the same conclusion when I rolled up a bunch of SFR's.. its somewhat like herding cats.. were as 100 units in one spot .. you can quantify and get scales of economy.I look at my activity here in PDX  developing the last 5 years...

That's a pretty cheap property, in my opinion.I love the idea of a house hack because it allows you to get into investing, have someone hopefully cover your major costs (mortgage/taxes), allow you to build your systems, allows you to learn your costs/problems in a rental, etc.But any decisions you make should be in line with your short and long term goals for real estate investing -- they need to be identifiable, quantifiable goals.