Look around you the next time you walk into a Retail Outlet, Fast Food Restaurant or Big Box Chain .... the age of the employees is astonishing. ( And I do not mean they are YOUNG )  

It always looks kinda junky, similar to when you see painted switch plates and outlet covers...

At the time of my culvert installation, the farmer alerted me to a drain tile outlet that runs across my property under my would-be culvert.

Prices have been climbing over the last few years.There is a meetup group (CIA) that would meet once a month at Bob's Burgers by the outlet mall which is worth attending. 

Is all the hoopla we are hearing about inflation from the news outlets a good thing or a bad thing for us real estate investors?

My guess is you have no insulation, leaky windows and doors and outlets, and so forth.As Jon explained electricity is extremely efficient.

I can only assume that there is a lot of automated programs available however being a newbe, i'm not familiar with any of them.I'm interested in automated systems that find properties, cost out rehabbing projects and advertising houses for sale once they are ready, on the numerous multi-media outlets. do any of these programs actually exist ?

You and the home inspector can check it for obvious silly things, like not having two ways out of the bedroom, or a light switch that is on the far side of the bedroom (instead of by the door), or only one outlet for a 12' x 12' bedroom, or no central heating in the bedroom, or whatever. 

However, I certainly don't need to know that "Outlet polarity is reversed and presents a potential shock and fire hazard.

It is fine if you have a couple cabinets and we have bought 2-3 cabinets from bargain outlets, it isnt difficult to assemble, but I havent done alot.