.#3 Contact Local Contractors for Labor PricingCall local Subcontractors and get budget pricing for common repairs on your typical rehab project.For example, call a roofer and ask what their average cost per Square of Architectural Asphalt Shingle Roofing would be on a 1,500 sf house, with a 6/12 pitch.Note: Some contractors will be reluctant to share pricing without seeing the property, but tell them you are just looking for a rough budget number you can use on future projects.#4 Compile Your Prices into a Spreadsheet or Estimating SoftwareOnce you start to get a better understanding of Labor and Material costs you will want to store this data into a spreadsheet or software that you can use to help you streamline the estimating process.The Book on Estimating Rehab Costs comes with a spreadsheet that you can use to help you populate your own database of labor pricing and material pricing.

I am currently a high level sales person in another field, and he knows this, so even with the allure of me becoming an agent under his shingle, he said No - don't do it.

I don't have experience with asbestos shingle removal.

While we mainly do asphalt shingles, metal is the 2nd most common roof we install. 

Looking at a property with painted wood shingles circa 1970~ era install.

Think 20+ year old HVAC systems and water heaters....roofs patched with tar instead of shingles, etc.I didn't see Vacancy or Capital Expenses included in your budget affecting cash flow. 

On my first purchase (personal home) inspector went to the water heater and it wasn't lit and inspector didn't even try to light it, so he just checked the box as 'needs addressed' and moved on.The only other time I had an inspection on a purchase: inspector noted a few missing shingles with no more comments other than missing. 

People often get in to those deals only looking at the raw cash flow, thinking it will be passive, but even if you aren't up on the roof replacing shingles, writing checks on the regular like that sure doesn't feel passive. 

                                                                                   -4 to 10 layers of roof since the early 1900 (never replaced just covered up)                                                                                                  -No insulation between ceiling and baseboards, no insulation under roof material, some tar and some shingles                                                            -My current problem for the last several months is rain/water coming inside the unit.

After we got in and were able to see the roof, it looks like it's about 15 years old and has a couple layers of shingles installed.