However, don't OVER improve your property either. 

Having 20 units in a D class area where have of the properties are falling apart and the value of the combined portfolio is 1M is not as impressive as 4 units in a solid A class area that have plenty of potential of improving in value and provide solid and stable returns. 

Focus on improving all those vs just trying to win a low bid.Dallas area is tough right now. 

If you were actually at my event, you'd know that 1) I buy at wholesale prices, 2) I buy for cash flow, not for speculative appreciation, 3) we 'create' appreciation by making value-add improvements to properties, and never speculate, 4) I stabilize properties & refi out my investors in 12-18 months, allowing more predictability in interest rates & loan terms than speculating 5-7 years out like most syndicators do, 5) if the market shifts, I'm at a low enough cost basis that I have many options on what to do with the property (hold, refi, sell, etc), 6) once investors are cashed out in 12-18 months, I'm the only one with ongoing responsibility & liability (even though it's a non-recourse loan there is still some liability I take on), 7) I project for increased interest rates (which actually just dropped .25% last week, btw), lower LTVs, and lower valuations than what the market is showing right now, keeping us at very safe levels, and 8) I only buy workforce A & B class apartments (not luxury, not C/D class) which is the most insulated asset class in real estate.I have NEVER publicly pitched a deal, or even pitched a deal in my events. 

In my experience, once the men know that I am the one who writes the checks, their attitude improves remarkably.

If you see a $220k listing for a duplex where each rent is $1000/month you see immediately that this deal is CLOSE TO 1% and that with negotiation or other improvements in rent or savings in expenses could meet or exceed that.

So, either adjust the price or improve the property.

An agent brought a property that would pay for itself and had the potential to increase rents and make non major improvements to increase rents.

The project was a success, our General Contractor, Better Touch Home Improvement did an amazing job.

I believe the play is to either improve the existing building and raise rents or the zoning allows for apartment buildings and the lot is considerably big, so maybe build new.