By no means should you scrimp and cut corners, but maybe granite countertops and hardwood floors dont fit with the price range you can get at your location.Personally, I dont like dealing with people all that much so I use property management companies to interface with the tenants. 

I know it is a cheaper option but not sure it is worth it vs. granite or quartz.

Thought I could save money using a huge slab of granite I found for $7/sqft at a Habitat for Humanity.

I have looked at FCI, Watermark, Granite and PPR.

A couple of places you can find notes with reputable sellers are Granite, Watermark and NotesDirect.   

The next thing I do is make a note of any long lead time items that I may need to get ordered in a timely fashion such as granite and a custom sized door.

Yeah, but I really like those granite toilets, tho...

Hopefully next week I will have Granite and cabinets finally finished. 

(e.g. new mechanical systems, HVAC, hot water tank, flooring, paint etc) But NOT thoroughly rehabbing it (e.g. new kitchen w/ granite, new bathrooms, new plumbing, electrical, windows etc)Personally, I have always rehabbed my rentals nicely, and asked for higher market rents.

I was eating pb@j sandwiches everyday because in my mind I couldn’t dare do laminate I had to have granite, god for bid a tile was laid slightly crooked, I’d rip it all up.