@Clive Smith I have a sample log in format that follows the IRS Audit Techniques Guides (ATGs).

 I did an investment research trip to Guanacaste, Costa Rica in March of last year.

if you're in St Pete frequently you'll need to turn some of those vacation trips into work trips - networking, building a team, and trying to find a distressed property.but the trick is then going to be moving quickly if either 1) a distressed property hits the MLS (unusual, but not unheard of) or 2) a distressed property comes to you another way (from your network, from a wholesaler.)how you will move quickly enough to lock it down and buy it, if you're in RI? 

The tenant refused to communicate about his plans to vacate and finally left the key under the mat on June 2 but made no communication, so we had to make 4 trips looking for the key.

I can also share some great resources and guides to get you started.Let me know what specifically you're looking to learn, and we can set up a time to talk.

As others have stated, your fit & finish goals should be guided by whether you plan to:1) Rent: tenants don't always take care of a property, so you want to use lower-grade materials and workmanship.2) Flip: higher quality on workmanship and materials is usually required.Regardless, you always want to "Maintain to the Neighborhood".

The market here offers a lot of potential.I highly recommend making a trip here to get a feel for the different neighborhoods and understand where the best opportunities lie.

Start with BiggerPockets Ultimate Beginners Guide (free).

Just make sure you do you research on Manufactured guide lines and requirements. 

It's a shorter trip to Canada from Detroit, since you have to take a ferry from Cleveland.