The materials used for rehab werent up to his standards.

The benefit of old homes imo is that I go in and redo all of the systems and have basically a brand new house that I know was done right bc I oversaw everything.Most new homes are built with cheaper materials than the homes built in 1900.

When it comes to taxes, the key to successful planning is documentation; retain all records of spending, as all those costs can be deducted.”

Estimated CostsADU costs can range DRAMATICALLY depending on the state of the lot, custom vs fast track plans, size of ADU, materials and finishes, speed and quality of the builder, etc.

Good call, Noel—licensing and insurance are critical, but in Tennessee, a contractor’s license is generally required for projects totaling $25,000 or more, including labor and materials (See Tennessee's licensing requirements).

You can cover the wire mesh with drywall patches (they tape on wall and across the wire, white/paintable, different sizes) as the wire mesh is what will prevent the rats from eating their way into the property (the covering material is cosmetic only).

My question is, do I just use the heavily reduced price I was able to purchase it for since it was vacant, and then the material cost of what I renovated plus what things I did contract out, even though that basis would be way under what the other renovated houses that sold near me per SF sold at, or are you able to use similar comps to determine the depreciation basis?

It does not cost the landlord except for the labor and materials.

Insurance companies are taking a close look at building materials, quality, and updates. 

I'm considering a fixer upper to retain as a rental but need guidance on how to pick reputable contractors.