I am new to wholesaling and I am trying to get a grip on a lot.

I would use something along the lines of what's used for laminate floors.I have used both as well that you are considering, and I will say this: if you use the Allure with the grip-strip, they're so thick that you'll never notice the difference especially if you put down a thin underlayment.

Wendy, The government spends a grip of money to compile info for us and its available for free.People can get so much relevant information from the Census Bureau's website, The IRS, and most county's have a website with a link for helping business.You can pretty quickly determine if a town is growing or shrinking and average income etc.

I know this is equivalent of asking someone to throw darts in complete darkness, but as I'm researching I'm finding that Banks/Investors have at least some initial approach when contemplating where to set their val...

I'm just trying to get my grips on the refi process if I have a private money lender pay for the whole deal. 

Then you have your general tools like a vice grip, hammer, channel locks, flashlight, tape measure, composite shims, headlamp, box cutter with extra blades, painter's tool 5-1, wire stripper, allen wrenches, voltage detector, outlet tester, lineman's pliers, good Milwaukee demo screwdrivers, Milwaukee 11-1 with Phillips, flat heads, and 3-4 common size nuts(this is great for appliances).

Keep in mind that the Trafficmaster Allure with the grip strip carried by Home Depot MAY be phasing out. 

He's got a pretty good grip on the market for rehabs and rentals and is very easy to work with...he'll show you what you want and give you realistic, conservative estimates...not what you want to hear!

While you complete them you gain a decent understanding of the process, find reliable subs or GCs, work out the kinks in your approach, get a good grip on your numbers, learn to develop a thorough scope of work for your workmen and a good set of contracts for GC or subs, etc., etc. 

This was critical when I first got a grip, take that 20% off the top and put it somewhere you can't get to it (Ally savings account @1.15% is what I use)Money gets wasted the same way time gets wasted, when you don't' have clear goals you are motivated to accomplish.