That hard work includes making the investments that the current owner hasn't made (nicer kitchens, new flooring, fresh coat of paint, etc.), removing tenants and marketing to new tenants.

You can get some estimates from contractors for what they charge for big ticket items like to renovate a bathroom, renovate a kitchen, replace the furnace, replace the roof, etc.All wholesale deals should have free and clear title and you should be able to see the sales agreement before submitting the earnest money deposit.

Kitchen cabinet handles were placed upside down, cabinet doors were installed backwards, electrical line for thermostat was ran on the inside of the bedroom exposed, trash swept into newly installs vents from the furnace, cracked tub, wall switches were installed sideways in some rooms, wall outlets were installed upside down on some walls, list goes on.

A complete overhaul of the kitchen and bathrooms, including cabinets, countertops, LVP flooring, electrical and plumbing fixtures.

Within about 1 hour she complains there is dog poop on the kitchen floor and sends photos. 

A complete overhaul of the kitchen and bathrooms, including cabinets, countertops, LVP flooring, electrical and plumbing fixtures.

If heat goes out in the winter we drop off several units, so they can be placed in different parts of the house - including every room with water like kitchen and bathrooms.We also have dehumidifiers, carpet blowers, shop vacs, puddle-sucker pumps, extra hoses, extra sump pumps with battery pack, squeegees, and portable AC units ready to deploy. 

Meaning you may be able to do some cosmetic or smaller renovations like bathrooms or kitchens in your duplex when the tenants turn over and those smaller investments can demand higher rents, so in the longterm you may have more cashflow from the duplex to help fund a future investment in another property while you wait for market conditions to change.

Got this one for 30K, only needed floors and kitchen redone.

The rental had ratty furniture, a record player prominently featured in the marketing but it had no speakers, missing basics items in the kitchen, lots of drunks in the concrete hallways that reverberated right into the bedroom at 2am, a strong odor of urine outside, and more.We have super hosts in this forum that have hundreds of 5-star reviews and are masters of the craft, but I look at their rentals and see they don't have any artwork on the walls, decor is basic, they do nothing to make the guest feel welcome, etc.