@Patrick PhilipIt's as obvious as many initially think.While we fix-and-hold as opposed to flipping, the renovation part is the same.When possible (ie. following a full gut), we paint before installing finish flooring cabinets and trim - much easier and, you should paint - or at lease prime and seal - the drywall behind your cabinets.  

Also, does this loan method exclude smaller "lipstick" projects that only need, say, $10k of materials where the investor wants to do their own flooring, paint, and trim work (and that's all that's required)?

I think it is more important to "trim the fat" from the budget, rather than the always popular political method of charging the taxpayers more in some fashion or another.

The one small exception I have is that in my lease I set the expectation that an assigned parking spot (outdoor, uncovered, unpaved) is the tenant's responsibility to maintain so they should shovel, rake, and trim plants.

If one is using hardwood trim and the other is using pine trim that will reflect in the estimate and will create a skewed comparison.

I am not quite sure where to start, as I have been until recently, living paycheck to paycheck, but I have trimmed a lot of expenses (ugh that car) I have joined this community, and I am working on repairing my FAIR credit as we speak.

There are several areas of moisture damaged wood on the exterior siding/trim that need to be repaired/replaced.

I use the same neutral wall color and white trim -everywhere and chose a higher quality paint so its not typically a full paint job.

So here are my “before” pictures, and general scope of work and timeline that we planned to do at time of purchase (I’ll update later what all we finally decided actually do and more pictures)plan was to open up this wall by removing the pantry, more open concept feel.master 1/2 bathmaster bedroom...in good shape, all the BR's were fine. guest bath, functional, but not in great shape or updatedbedroomroom addition, overall also functional, just not updated - windows were in bad shapethere was a plumbing leak and some water getting in near the bottom of the foundation on the back wallstorage roomdeck needs replaced, very bad shape - not installed properly or maintained at allGeneral Scope of work for our plan:New roof/guttersReplace a few windows that were brokenPaint interior and exteriorNew Deck/PatioBasic landscapingConvert/update master ½ bath to a full bath by bumping out into the kitchenUpdate guest bath: new vanity, tile flooring, new tub, tile surroundFinish basementNew electrical boxUpdate HVAC in existing room addition: install a mini-split since there was very outdated window unit AC and baseboard heatNew trim throughout entire houseOpen wall between entry room and kitchenNew kitchen cabinets/granite countertops, updated layoutNew hardware/appliances/finishesMitigate basement water, fix foundation bowing walls.New driveway/front walk-wayOur initial budget for all of this was about $70-$80k.

Several rooms will need drywall, paint, trim, doors, and some electrical (can lights, fireplace inserts, appliances).