I am in a process trying to have a better way to manage the two properties, so I am working to gather the list of reliable contractors, landscape companies, electrician, HVAC, plumbers, snow plowing, roofing company.

If you “manage” the real estate ie pick the plumber, electrician, painter, contractor tenant ,etc and all are paid by the Ira-is that considered prohibited- I don’t think so.

Especially in the case of a condo, then you just need to check email / phone calls from tenants and send out a plumber, electrician or handyman if there is a problem -- no need to swing the hammer yourself if you are self managing.

Your contractor either does not have a good electrician to catch the electrical issue.  

The electrical seems right to me, an electrician is going to run $50-100 per hour and if they checked 4 boxes and all the appliances in each unit that is easily $300. 

Possibly try going to work for an electrician, plumber or hvac company and learn some of those trades.

I am a union electrician and have tons of experience fixing up homes in all aspects which is why I am most interested in buy/hold rentals and the BRRRR strategy. 

Foundation issue can be way more than the estimated, knob and tube wiring is the worst, electricians wont know the cost until they start ripping them out.

I have a semi retired electrician that will do a complete re-wire on the house for $3100.  

They were having issues with a breaker so I sent out an electrician to check it.