.#4 Contact Local Contractors For PricingCall local Subcontractors and get budget pricing for common repairs on your typical rehab project.For example, call a roofer and ask what their average cost per Square of Architectural Asphalt Shingle Roofing would be on a 1,500 sf house, with a 6/12 pitch.#5 Build Out Your Database in a Spreadsheet or Estimating SoftwareOnce you start to get a better understanding of Labor and Material costs you will want to store this data into a spreadsheet or software that you can use to help you streamline the estimating process.#6 Practice, Practice, PracticeWalk through distressed fixer-upper properties (or find properties virtually online) and practice creating detailed scopes of work, quantifying repairs and estimating rehab costs for the projects.This will help you get acquainted with common rehab repairs, rehab costs & estimating terminology.#7 Get Your First Rehab Project!

How can I add a grip surface to pavement and Trex deck?

Under the new tangible property regulations I would expense the roof if the new roofing material was similar to the old roofing material (example asphalt shingle to asphalt shingle) (unless the roof was already in a state of disrepair when you acquired the property and it has not deteriorated to a complete state of disrepair.

We shared a driveway,, our 6 plex, their 4 plex, inner city,, we had larger share of area on driveway about 7 feet width,, he had about 4 width,, no way anyone could really stick to one side,, the houses were side by side and driveway between, when it came to fixing the asphalt he said NO.. we had to call city have the driveway condemned before he would agree to pay for 1/2 the cost of repairs... we made him pay us before any work started so we knew the money would be paid.. and then we paid contractor..  

Some background: I have been looking at a duplex in north Florida that would be my first venture into REI, I have never owned real estate before so my experience has been reading, more reading, the podcast, and talking to non-investors that are long-time home owners.The property claims to have a "10-yr old roof" - but after looking at the property, it appears they just put an additional layer of (asphalt) shingles on top of the ones that were already on there. 

I would think 500 units and 2 years if the units are wide range of ages (hardscape lasts a long time (30 years for asphalt, cement maybe 60 years) but is expensive, ditto foundations) could suffice. 

Anyways, Rich, you're last response made much more sense regarding the fact that with condo's you get sucked into having to pay part of the cost for having the pavement redone, or bushes planted or whatever it may be.

I do agree that your own feet to pavement is an excellent way to get a "feel" for an area.

Then we pour on the heat a few months later and melt you into the pavement.

Know how to turn off your water, gas and electric service; and keep the necessary tools in your vehicle.Know how to do basic roofing: shingles, 2 part roll roofing, flashing and tar.Know how to replace an electric breaker, light switch and outlet.Have a RUP license (Restricted Use Pesticide).Know how to do basic welding (Stick, MIG or gas; no need for TIG).Have a box type animal trap, and know what to do with a trapped feral or wild animal that is a problem.Know how to do common repairs to major appliances (broken air circulating fan in a fridge, thermal fuses in a dryer, agitator dogs and transmission coupling in a washer, blower motors & capacitors in central heat/air, gas thermocouples in water heaters and space heaters, know how to clean a pilot light orifice, etc).Know how to do concrete and asphalt work.Know how to do small engine repair (mowers, chainsaws, weedeaters).Know how to detect and remedy gas and water leaks.