The key is a great contractor and a clear, detailed, well-thought-out scope of work. 

.- We also negotiate a reasonable completion date, depending on the Scope Of Work (SOW). --- Who gets all the phone calls and wastes time calming a tenant down because the owner's contractor doesn't show up as scheduled after they took time off from work or a 3 day job takes 3 weeks?

One thing that could really help is creating a detailed scope of work before committing.

By carefully managing the scope and cost of renovations, you can maximize the return on your investment.3.

I also sold 2 properties to one out of state and another from Pakistan and the buyer never walked through but relied on the home inspection to determine scope of work or to complete the deal.    

Having reliable contractors who can shoot you straight regarding providing an accurate scope of work and expenses is crucial.

Hi Jonathan,Jay’s Fencing (209-847-3992), Elite Iron Fencing (209-968-6685), and Fletcher Fencing (209-662-8298) are solid options to get bids from and compare.I also offer consulting services to help clients navigate projects like this—whether it’s evaluating bids, ensuring the scope of work is clear, or helping you avoid potential issues during the process.

It would be based on the scope of work of the renovation that you're doing comparing for values in its as is condition and values after rehab 

Ambiguous descriptions can lead to scope creep, material allowance overruns, timeline days, and subpar quality of work.

But I would also make sure that you get a sewer lateral scope done to ensure the cast iron piping is in good shape.