We replaced every window and door in the house, completely re-sided it, put in a brand new kitchen (RTA Cabinets), full tear-off roof replacement (five!

However, if it's something simple with just a kitchen, bathrooms, floors, and paint then you could easily use a "handyman" type contractor.

I paid cash from my savings and have budgeted about $25,000 for repairs (new kitchen and bathrooms, new Hvac, and paint and landscaping).

In Texas AT LEAST you need to have GFCI outlets on all kitchen counter surfaces, outside, garage, bathrooms etc. this home had the outside ones since the pool was relatively new and the outlets were put in when the pool was put in.

The owner is in the process of doing some repairs in the bathroom and kitchen, but hasn't finished.  

I would do the plumbing, electrical, kitchen and bathroom finishes, flooring etc.

This project is essentially a complete gut that will include addition of roughly 700 SQF, new roof, siding, landscaping, privacy fence, hardwood flooring installation, interior re-design into an open concept floor plan, upgraded kitchen with granite counters, new cabinets, stainless steel appliances, etc.

Kitchen/Dining room looks great though and house is located on an amazing, quiet, family friendly block near center of town. 

For example, I could just refresh the kitchen with all new hardware or I can open up a wall to the dining area, move the sink/stove, move the HVAC and have a nice large open kitchen space for probably another 10k. 

I began scouring foreclosures, REO’s, and craigslist.Eventually, I came across an SFH REO that had been on the market for 15-16 months.It was initially listed at $89,900, and was down to $39,900 by the time I looked at it.It clearly had plumbing and a kitchen for an un-permitted 2nd unit upstairs.The conversion from SFH to duplex would be easy.It basically needed everything.I decided to put an offer in.I felt like I could make the numbers work at $25,000For those still reading, here was the process: My initial offer was $10,000 w/ $500 EMD all cash.They countered at $35,000I went up to $15,000 and they stayed put (oops, over-played it)So, I counter at $17,500—best and final offer.They counter down to $25,000 w/ $2500 EMDI email my lender, and let him know that I am at $25,000 (he knows that was the target was), and told him that I wasn’t done and wanted to bring him down further.He says “Let me get this straight.You got them down from $40,000 to $25,000 which is 37.5% off asking price, and you want to get them down further???”