If he really wants to "roll up his sleeves", he can scout properties in your community (or on the internet) and get paid a "commission" if he finds one of your investor-friends in Omaha to buy it (aka, acquisition fee/finder's fee).

One lesson learned: Create a good relationship with contractor and shop around for the best pricing on materials.

Leather is a living material and it will dry out and crack if not maintained.Microfiber is a good choice like @John Underwood said.

Beyond that, you need to become an expert on labor and material rates in your area or get connected with someone else that is. 

The internet leveled the information asymmetry and I visited all the houses I wanted during the open houses. 

The roofer gave me a invoice with high level bill of material, and a statement that it has 2 years of warranty and brand name of the shingles.It does not say brand name warranty or model or batch number etc. 

Issues we faced were conflicting opinions on the next home we should purchase for our portfolio and what upgrades to do when we were doing a flip, the cost of labor and materials, etc.

When you have unscheduled entry as an option, I think it encourages them to do weird stuff like hide stuff in weird spots, etc because they are always on guard.Hoarders clauses would have to be linked to fire codes I think for excess people and materials near fire sources, etc.

But if the blue sky materialized then repurchasing that equity could still turn into a win/win.

This being said, that would justify only a reasonable price increase caused by the cost of materials.