Just want to make sure I'm making decisions based on educated guesses, and not mere speculation. 

Its merely for you to see the chain of title. 

It should merely state that if you or anyone you know does buy the house that you have to pay him.

Most wholesalers do not inform sellers that they are merely trying to flip the property at a higher price.

At least when I've made and used them, they were never intended to be seen as alternatives to or competitors with the big guys; they were merely a tool to help my listings stand out among the huge sea of properties these giants have us all swimming in.

Typically there's something like "Buyer will not ask for merely cosmetic changes" or some limitation on Buyer's ability to request changes.  

I'm merely speaking about the suburbs of Cleveland.

It seems that as long as a "wholesaler" has placed a deposit "substantial consideration" when getting the property under contract and then merely marketed the contract to other known investors he will be ok.

If you want accuracy, there are no shortcuts, you must make a SOW (scope of work) and price each line item out to be accurate allowing for a % for buffer at the end as hidden or unforeseen items are not only common, but probably, especially when the rehab is heavier vs lighter.Lots of people suggest having 3 bids from contractors but when you don't own the property and are merely trying to put a budget together to make an offer, contractors are often not going to put forth all that time in effort on the off chance you do get the deal and do hire them, so you would have to pay for the bids.

I am really new to the real estate game, (mere months) and so far have only partnered with local investors who flip and hold SFR's...