Yes, it takes some knowledge to understand what to look for in doing your own "inspection" before you write the offer, but it really is not rocket science... in time, and with enough experience, any layperson (i.e. non-construction professional) can learn enough to do his or her own legwork upfront.

You can search flip properties using the search filters on sites like Zillow or Redfin and get a sense for what finishes are being used, how long different designs last on market and what flipped homes are selling for.Design is much more art than science.

I've also had my Property Managers do them for properties they manage, and I paid an appraiser once to do an out of state property.It's not really rocket science if you perform reasonable due diligence efforts.

It's not rocket science unless you are required by a third party to get a mold remediation company involved.

A $5k investment in Facebook (FB) grew to $35k, I doubled my money in Starbucks (SBUX), parked money in stocks like Visa (V), PepsiCo (PEP), Trex (TREX), Exact Sciences (EXAS), etc. 

It is fascinating to see MGH, founded in 1811, unveil it's 1,000,000 Sq Ft expansion plan that will expand inpatient and specialty care capacity for decades to come.

Fascinating, thank you. 

been done before. it's not like appraising properties is an exact science, is it?

I’ve been fascinated with it since I was a kid, and have never lost my passion for it.

It seems very fascinating to me.