One client I worked with found a nice house and her "contractor" said she needed a new electric panel and a new air-conditioner and quoted her prices about double what I pay. 

A house with a bad old design like that screams that other issues are likely like terrible wiring, an ancient electric panel, aluminum wires, asbestos, lead paint, bad plumbing, and a creepy Norman Bate-style basement.

I got it Linda owned the Pacific union shop in Napa and started the one in SF she was a principal.. will have to check in with her.. and Panel was a major player I think they either bought contempo or fox and clarksgaden back in the day..

So they had to tear it all out & redo it.In another city/county I upgraded our electrical panel to 200amp & 90% of the old circa 1970's wiring mess.

We provide a mounting surface for their termination point and a patch-panel to connect them to the internal wiring of the appropriate units.  

Outside of that I have a small section of the exterior that is wood paneling that needs repainted, the majority of the exterior is brick or stone and in fine shape.I was planning on finishing up the remaining work and selling this coming summer, but have just gotten engaged and will be needing a bigger house.  

I also give them a detailed 11"x17" floor plan with dimensions of each wall that they may need to plan out furniture placements, as well as locations of switched receptacles, cable outlets to plan where to put floor lamps, mount TVs etc...At key handover I give them more detailed package including a list of appliance models and serial numbers, a detailed electrical panel schedule, city mosquito control number, garbage collection schedule for regular waste, recycle waste, yard waste and bulk trash, smoke alarm batteries, storage shed padlocks, location of the secret switch to opens the swinging bookshelf that reveals two more bedrooms.

Bought for $250,000Rehab for $63k - $9k rebates = $54kClean up and Dump: $2kAll new electrical, lighting and service panel upgrade: $10kHardwood floor refinishing and repairs of 120 sq ft