After college, started my own clothing line and moved to ATL for marketing purposes and thats where most of my team was, but still worked as Financial Research Analyst for ACS on a state contract for about the last 7 years.

I'd base that decision on the totality of the circumstances...that being lack of food and clothing inside the residence and statements from the neighbors.  

She can do this because she's built a base of cashflow in.....business (one of which is a boutique children's clothing store).

Plenty of hosts state this is their target all in price for a home including aquisition, rehab, and the slight furnishing (bed, mattress, bed cover, lamp, side table, place for clothes if there is no closet) you have to have.

At one point I opened a closed closet and looked at what clothes I had hanging and they all looked dirty.

They put a circular piece of plastic over the drain and a wash cloth on top of that.

That being said... you can deduct mileage (understand the rules, first), items like clothing and tools (if used for work that you did on the flip), and a home office. 

One bonus, though, is since I did them all myself when I wore a younger man's clothes, I know how long they take, can apply an hourly rate, and how much materials cost to estimate a reasonable cost of repair and I also know what a good and a bad job looks like; this all helps tremendously in selecting and managing contractors.

Could be a shovel, fruit on your tree, clothes left out to dry, etc. 

The garage's interior roof has a 5'x5' torn, shredded dry wall ceiling and exposed plywood with dampness where the upstair's bathroom toilet is located.