In both cases, you get to be part of the team and learn from the process, acquiring invaluable practical experience that will serve you well in your future endeavors.These methods allow for learning and growth without needing to risk a substantial amount of one's own capital or the capital of others prematurely.

That is where a good GC comes in, we are quality men and whistle blowers for the customer.

My higher quality property Class A is doing well but the lower quality ones, Class C are not.

What you pay with labor will depend on if for instance one of my units still has a good pad and tack and strip then I just pay for carpet and installation cost.What you will pay will also depend on how much you are installing at one time.I don't like Berber for rentals.The design of the loop once it starts unraveling it can unwind pretty good an dis harder to get certain stains and pet stuff out of it.With carpet you want a Nylon carpet even if the cheaper version.Some carpet guys will try to sell you the rubber composite carpet stuff which is the really cheap stuff so it will stand up to tenant abuse.The problem is it can only be cleaned usually up to one time and then you need to replace it again.So I would rather get a cheaper nylon that can be re-cleaned many times over after installation for an additional .10 to .15 a sq ft extra than the super cheap stuff I will have to replace again.If you get 1 sq ft for carpet,pad,tack and strip,and labor install and it is Nylon you are getting one heck of a deal.Even at a carpet place usually you are at .40 to .50 for the pad and .50 to .60 for a cheap carpet.Then you have to do material to install and labor.I have seen sometimes if you have to do a small area you can pick up quality remnant pieces for real cheap and hit that type of number or buy in bulk.

I'd suggest you start asking other investors in your market for general contractor referrals- people who do quality and reasonable work on rental properties in your market.

Lots of lofts and apartment complexes with quality tenants.

You can bet they do quality work or these huge companies would not be hiring them. 

Just be sure to do your best to compare apples-to-apples, not just with beds/baths/sq ft, but also quality of finishes.Then present this info to the tenant and ask them what they think a fair increase is.Strategy is to show them they can't find anything else at the rate they are paying.Of course, at least 25% of the time they will claim they can't afford any increase.

Quality vs quantity.Good idea.

It’s a lower quality standard than most new construction homes.