However, if you aim for a higher property value, it hinges on the comparables in your market.I suggest assessing the project's cost and comparing it to the values of similar properties nearby.

With that loan product, they will not be looking at your DTI or work experience and will qualify the property based on the DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio), which is a measure of the property's cash flow.

Also it's better to measure the appliance life span if it's getting to the end for most appliances, buy warranty.

My aim is to maximize my monthly income to supplement my retirement fund (CalSTRS) after 25 years in education, within the next five years.

You could invest that same $100K to generate $30K over time, run a NPV for whatever you plan on spending the $70K on to see if it's better than what you could use the $100K on measured over time. 

Aim just for the big names or national guys?

Other things he did.1) did not put a spacer between cabinets, so if I fix that the granite countertop slab gets tossed because the measurments changed and it will be shorter than the cabinets.2) He tried removing a rusted shut 70 year old clean-out drain cap, and caused it to pop off (under pressure) and flood under the cabinets.

I aim for it but it's very difficult to get the "1% rule" anymore and I'm not going to go into the worst parts of town to get it (which, by the way, will only be "gotten" on paper as those properties rarely cash flow).

You can only manage what you can measure, so step one is to get EVERYONE registered.

Basically last year and in the coming year this market will see hundreds of brand new medium to large houses specifically aimed at STR and they are NICE!