Due to increased rates i did not refi so i did not get opportunity to see how an appraiser valued the half bathroom but the comps with same bathroom count had crazy valuation for the additional half bathroom.Taking under utilized space like a work area to add a br where the added br does not put you above the normal for the area can add value.Similar if a neighborhood is virtually all 3 br and 4 br properties and you find a 2 BR, it could be a value add to add the bedroom via new construction.  

Pairing that with relationship-building will help you uncover off-market opportunities and find local experts who can guide you.For meetups, here are a few ideas:Indianapolis Real Estate Investors Association (Indy REIA): They have a mix of virtual and in-person events and are a good starting point for networking with other investors in the Indy market.Louisville Real Estate Investors Group (REIG): A similar organization for the Louisville market, with educational and networking opportunities.Check out BiggerPockets Meetups: Many cities have local meetups organized by investors active on BiggerPockets, and they often include virtual options.Facebook Groups: Look for local investing groups like "Indianapolis Real Estate Investors" or "Louisville REI."

Virtually only ones to have not done well in San Diego RE were those over leveraged at inopportune times.If you want To invest in San Diego, I suggest you save more before starting.  

I will provide some thoughts on the San Diego purchase- virtually all high LTV mls purchases since rates started to hike have negative cash flow at purchase- historically great appreciation- historically great rent growth but recently flattening- prop 13 is great benefit for long holds- laws keep getting less LL friendly.

Also, when it comes to negotiating the rent: - Should I ask for a phone call or virtual meeting to discuss the price?

No, DIY is not the same as a virtual site visit or a study done by engineers @Dana YobstAs @V.G Jason said, you could very likely cost yourself more in time and money.

For those of you looking for accountability opportunities, and small group masterminds I encourage you to join me at Momentum 2025, it's an 8-week summit with weekly virtual courses and meetings.

He had performed virtually no underwriting.  

I also use their virtual credit cards which enables me to assign a card to a specific person, like the cleaner for my STR for example, so when she runs a charge, it automatically drops into the right account in terms of categorizing my expenses.

A small number of minor picture hanging holes or command strip usage on a wall is not unreasonable and would be considered normal wear and tear virtually everywhere.