@Tom HurfordThe house is 2400 square feet, brick. 4 beds, 3.5 Bathrooms, University Heights, OH (near Cleveland)ARV: $240K-$260K Initial Budget was $58KBid from contractor: $59KMaterials I am providing: $16K (incl 2k contingency) (in bold below)Rough Scope: Landscaping (clean out window wells, remulch beds, trim bushes and trees)- L: $1845Masonry ( Tuckpoint Chimney, Tuckpoint exterior masonry around porch, powerwash brick) L&M: $1200Windows (Replace 16 Windows): L&M:$3600Roof (Inspect Slate Roof): $150Gutters (Replace all gutters): L&M: $1200Deck (Powerwash and stain): L&M: $500Front Porch (Scrape and Paint Iron Railings): L&M: $100Exterior Lights (5): L:$100, M:$200Kitchen (Complete upgrade, counters, cabinets, tile floor) L&M: $11,000, Appliances: $3,000First Floor 1/2 Bath (Complete upgrade,): L:$2000, M (supplied by me):$550First Floor Master Bath (Complete Upgrade): L:$4500, M (supplied by me):$2400Second Floor Main Bath (Complete Upgrade): L:$4500, M (supplied by me):$1800Third Floor Main Bath (Complete Upgrade): L:$2000, M (supplied by me):$1600New Entry Doors and Lockset (3): L:$300, M (supplied by me):$1025Finish Basement walls and ceiling (Frame, drywall, and Trim, 400 sq ft) L&M:$10,000Finish Basement Flooring (LVP): L:$1500, M (supplied by me):$1000Refinish Hardwood (1300 sq ft): L&M: $5000Electrical (Replace outlets, switches, faceplates, interior lighting): L:$1100, M (supplied by me):$1026Paint Prep : L&M: $600Paint Interior (floor (basement), ceilings, walls, and trim): L&M:$5000Exterior Painting (Garage door, house/window trim): L&M:$2500

They will be better able to scope out the landscape and find the cheapest path for driveways, etc.

Which is where we came in and made the offer at asking. 599k was a decent price. 590k would have been optimal but the seller was not budging on price because of comps. 2 reasons though he listed it "cheap". 1) The house needed TLC in terms of cleaning, painting, some flooring, landscaping, door hardware, the basics.

I know that <5,000 sqft you do not)Legal: $3,500Other: $16,000 (Budget for unforeseen issues)Tap & Capacity Fees: $27,515 Building Permit Cost: $2,391.17 (estimated $706K total costs)Site Plan Review: $224.64 ($100 + $.015 p/ sqft)Wastewater Capacity Fee: $750 per unit x 8 = $6,000Water Capacity Fee: $750 per unit x 8 = $6,000Meters: $300 per x 8 = $2,400Water Tap Fees & Install: $300 per unit + 900 installation = $2,400 +900 = $3,300Wastewater Tap Fees & Install: $300 per unit + 800 installation = $3,200Facilities Tax: $4,000 - ($500 * 8 units, I am assuming this will change as I haven't asked solid numbers )Total Development Costs: $783,785 (8 units costing $94, 848 each, which I think is high)Proforma CF $ - Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Year 7 Year 8 Income   Rental Income (Increase 2.5%/yr) 2.50% $ 79,200.00 $ 81,180.00 $ 83,209.50 $ 85,289.74 $ 87,421.98 $ 89,607.53 $ 91,847.72 $ 94,143.91 Vacancy (10% in Yr1) 5% $ 7,920.00 $ 4,059.00 $ 4,160.48 $ 4,264.49 $ 4,371.10 $ 4,480.38 $ 4,592.39 $ 4,707.20 Gross Income $ - $ 71,280.00 $ 77,121.00 $ 79,049.03 $ 81,025.25 $ 83,050.88 $ 85,127.15 $ 87,255.33 $ 89,436.72                   Expenses                   Real Estate Taxes $ - $ 9,000.00 $ 9,090.00 $ 9,180.90 $ 9,272.71 $ 9,365.44 $ 9,459.09 $ 9,553.68 $ 9,649.22 Insurance 2.50% $ 3,000.00 $ 3,075 $ 3,152 $ 3,231 $ 3,311 $ 3,394 $ 3,479 $ 3,566 Trash Collection ($250/unit) 1% $ 2,000.00 $ 2,020 $ 2,071 $ 2,122 $ 2,175 $ 2,230 $ 2,285 $ 2,343 Common Utilities 2.11% $ 2,400.00 $ 2,451 $ 2,512 $ 2,575 $ 2,639 $ 2,705 $ 2,773 $ 2,842 Management Fee (10%) 10% $ 7,920.00 $ 8,712 $ 8,930 $ 9,153 $ 9,382 $ 9,616 $ 9,857 $ 10,103 Repairs/Maintenance 3.00% $ 2,138.40 $ 2,313.63 $ 2,371.47 $ 2,430.76 $ 2,491.53 $ 2,553.81 $ 2,617.66 $ 2,683.10 Turnover/Redecorating 1% $ 2,000.00 $ 2,020 $ 2,071 $ 2,122 $ 2,175 $ 2,230 $ 2,285 $ 2,343 Snow Removal/Parking lot cleaning 2% $ 1,500.00 $ 1,530 $ 1,568 $ 1,607 $ 1,648 $ 1,689 $ 1,731 $ 1,774 Landscaping 2% $ 2,000.00 $ 2,040 $ 2,091 $ 2,143 $ 2,197 $ 2,252 $ 2,308 $ 2,366 Admin Fees 1% $ 1,200.00 $ 1,212 $ 1,242 $ 1,273 $ 1,305 $ 1,338 $ 1,371 $ 1,406 Total Expenses $ - $ 33,158 $ 34,463 $ 35,188 $ 35,930 $ 36,690 $ 37,466 $ 38,261 $ 39,074 Net Operating Income $ - $ 38,122 $ 42,658 $ 43,861 $ 45,095 $ 46,361 $ 47,661 $ 48,994 $ 50,362                 Property Value @ 8 CAP $ - $ 476,520 $ 533,223 $ 548,258 $ 563,686 $ 579,517 $ 595,761 $ 612,428 $ 629,530 Obviously, Once I account for my debt service (DS), say $758,000 @ 5.25% for 240 months ($5,108 p/ month), I am under water.Year 1 NI [$38,122] - DS [$61,296] = -$23,174 = Meaning I cannot do this project.......

I need bids from a handyman team for exterior house painting, grass removal, and mulch and drip irrigation installation.

Also call landscape companies you see working in your neighborhood.

I found this very useful on the forums that @Christopher Phillips a Real Estate Agent from Garden City, New Yorksaid "1031 can't be used for personal property.

Applicable fees: assuming you are zoning compliant, building and zoning permit (Accessory Building, Fence, Landscaping, etc.), Parking Lot Lighting, and Thorough fare Fees at a minimum. pages 14, 16, 23 of the Raleigh fee schedule Expect $400 or more per space in fees alone plus attorney costs ($273/space Thorough fare Fees alone)Or... run covertly. 

I love the Westland / Redford /wayne /garden city area.

Plus you can listen to podcasts anywhere, whether you're driving to work, running, working in the garden, walking down the street, etc.