I've even heard of GCs using auction type settings for returned items at Home Depot and Lowes for steep discounts.I've learned a lot about the GC game as I was up close to over 40 projects last two years and some went well and some did not and when they did not it was all Contractor related.If a GC isn't sourcing cheap materials at the same time milking the hell out of his 150-200 per day workers, then you can find yourself eating into your margins real fast. 

Water heater 12 years to replacement (may need some service before replacement).Recognize many cap ex items are years away.  

The resources are abundant - spreadsheets, contracts, tangible items to help you succeed.

We can't do the inspection until all 3 of those items get installed. 

Of course, developers (sellers) and builders (buyers) have debates a lot on those various line items in the proforma (especially hard and soft costs).

There are a few items I have no idea about, I'm hoping someone here has some experience in the field and can provide a ball park means of estimate 3 costs:1.

Unfortunately being a rookie I went with an inspector that came from a company that had a solid website and the inspection failed to spot many items.

If your only way of making money from an item is hoping that in the future someone else will pay more than you did, then that is gambling. 

We’ve got to separate this type of loss from those in which the 5 items listed above weren’t followed. 

This has helped me in the past when a unit has been damaged and/or small items are misplaced like silverware, pots/pans, etc.