I've done fairly big renovations where in most cases, Im replacing almost everything in/on the house.

Step 1: Ensure you can get financing (is it a cash purchase or will you need a loan). 

This ensures you have a clear picture of what repairs are needed and helps avoid surprises during the rehab.

thanks for your time and help 1st off, full disclosure here, Rent To Retirement advertises their properties on my Investment Properties For Sale Show, so I am not a totally unbiased opinion and it's only fair that I tell you this up frontHaving said that, outside of running my show for people like them, I also own a property management company in Northeast Ohio and have worked with 1,000's of out of state investors over the years.I say all of that to say this, the overwhelming majority of negative reviews I have seen on them are very similar to a lot of negative experiences investors have with my property management company and others like it that I've worked with.

I'm also considering finding a seller that would pay more than me to help my father-in-law out and perhaps get a wholesale commission that I could use on my next (ok, first) brrrr, but I'm not sure the best way to validate a fair price or know what a fair wholesale commission would be.

This ensures that any payout for damage or liability can be processed more smoothly, and it can help protect your interests if something happens on the property. 

Unless you revise your plan and ensure that your personal use is under 10% of the rental use.

I do have a few fair contractors. 

That's fair.

I’m committed to keeping my options open and continuing to learn about being a landlord to ensure I’m well-prepared for my first purchase.To improve my ability to analyze deals, I’ve developed a two-part plan:Join a local BP meet-up group to discuss my goals and support others.Continue learning and engaging with the BP forum.Thank you again for your guidance—it’s truly appreciated!