I know that repair value (barring the inevitable unknowns) can be influenced by condition of the home and property, area similarities (meaning, if your comps have granite counters, then your flip needs to have granite counters), and budget.But, what do I really need to know?  

 :)I'll let Dion speak to his own writing style..... conversational, influencing, technical, instructional,  fiction, non-fiction or just BSing... 

I dusted off Eat That Frog and read How to Win Friends and Influence People again over the weekend.  

I drove my partner to the property to show him in case that would influence our decision.

BP didn't have any influence over this deal.

I would suggest Dale Carnegie's "Making friends and influenceing people".

And it helps influence our tenants to take better care of the properties - which so far all of them have done.

They may have more influence than you think.

I've had many that weren't cash cows but made money turning them a few years later, so there can be other influences involved.

That is going to influence what your options are.