. +1  to checking the contract/ clause if they miss a deadline. 

Be realistic with your deadlines.

Because I have had what I believe to be competent preparation in the past, I am considering the option of using those previous returns as a customized guide for self preparation this year.I may give up halfway through and decide to acquire a professional before the deadline next year, but I feel like it's something I should try.I am aware of the business version of turbotax and I also saw a reference to taxact.com as a method for personal preparation.My situation is:I have 5 SFH all occupied.  1 was acquired this year (rehabbed then rented).I have 1 duplex acquired this year (neither side rented yet - completing rehab and expect to rent in the last month of the year or first of 2017).I have a full time job.My wife has a part time job.We are a sole proprietorship regarding the business organization.My total cost for preparation last year was $865.Please comment...will you:Use a professional for your tax preparation, yes or no?

(so break done your scope with correlating prices)#4: Some people recommend a time to finish deadline, which could also have a per-day penalty for finishing late, or even a reward for finishing early#5: Your scope of work really needs to be as detailed as possible including exact products used and on some occasions techniques used

. / Markup (tentative) in the Senate Finance Committee.November 17 - December 24: Passage of tax reform bill targeted for as early as the Thanksgiving recess (November 17) or as late as Christmas Eve.The goal of the White House and Republican leadership is to have a tax reform bill signed into law within the next 3 to 8 weeks.If the bill is passed into law:December 31, 2017: Deadline to complete sale/acquisition of either relinquished or replacement property, in order to qualify for treatment of Section 1031.January 1, 2018: Modifications to Section 1031 become effective.The legislative schedule is aggressive.

If by the deadline, and he only finished parts of the building, whatever leftover will not count toward the standing structure.

ONE DAY before the 45 day identification deadline the seller advised they can’t sell the second property in the same calendar year because of capital gains on both.I scrambled and identified two additional properties before the 45 day deadline.

The typically begin this process right away in order to meet the closing date deadline.

Pretty sure this comes down to intent, I don't think there's exact deadlines for this.

Then I would assemble a team of realtor, cpa, contractor, inspector, etc and get them onboard with your aggressive plan and deadlines.