(yes, all in one breath :-)Helping an Agent to get an extra 3 to 5 listings a year is worth comp pulling any day of the week, but if you happen to be an assistant with your own access, you can do that part on your own, which makes for a nice, easy, stress free relationship.

Personally, I live/breath Excel (work in finance) but still prefer using the right tools for the right job.

The margins are there if you do it right and with my architect background I am able to bring unique and custom design to these houses that buyers have expressed as a 'breath of fresh air from the traditional flips'. 

They arnt cheap, but they will tackle weird smells, mold and smoke like nobody's business Just don't breathe the stuff.

In the long-run $5K is not a fatal mistake so take a deep breath and try to think it through with out the emotions.What is your goal?

Take a breath.

You need to take a deep breath...

I don't mind working on the house so much, but I hate having to deal with the codes department breathing down our backs.  

First concentrate on getting to a level of income that allows you a little breathing room so you're not worried about paying next month's bills. 

It is not a problem unless it is disturbed, gets in the air, and is breathed in.