Furniture, TV, bikes, etc. 

To clear a few things up I've done a lot of small rehab projects (flooring, plumbing, electrical) on my parents house and I run a small custom wood furniture business in my free time so that's why I'm drawn to doing my own rehab.

All of them I purchased for $350K with 20% down plus closing, reno and furniture took about $50K each.

Leads - from the internet or run ads in local papers.Negotiate the price on the phoneMake a trial offer - a trial offer is an offer well below what they wanted - a TRIAL OFFER  will smoke out their true motivation.Always ask for contract candy - that is anything they can add to the deal - all the furniture, owner financing, interest free note for their balance or part of it, a car, money back at settlement etc.Send a skinny contract for electronic signaturesGet it inspected, have agents look at it, get compsIf my offer is too high, go into second stage negotiations (lowering the offer).Advertise the property for sale - if no takers - have a public auction.With remote investing the United States is your market - learn how to do it and you will always have leads, deals and settlements.Good luck,Charles

Of course there will be added expenses of buying a new home-furniture, etc.

She is saving what looks to be total trash, furniture that has sat out in the rain for more than a year, scrap metal...crazy.

Thinking this would be a near worse case scenarioRehab PlanThinking I could possibly do interior upgrades, modernize the office into something appealing, (could be as simple as removing the paneling and exposing the brick, redividing the offices, updating the baths etc) and then rent out individual office spaces and charge $400-600 a mo for each office space - They'd be gross leases and I'd take care of all utilities, janitorial etc -- would not provide any onsight receptionist, fax machines etc -- each person would provide their own office equip -- I could potentially provide office furniture if needed, plenty of good used stuff to be found locallyThinking at a min 7-8 office suites, possibly more -- Per agent and my knowledge of community/research online I dont think a setup exists like this to attract possibly an IT person, a 1 man/woman business such as an accountant etc.  

Staircases can be these odd spiral sorts of things that make moving furniture a challenge. 

I make decent money with my day job as an engineer but I have school loans to pay off, car loan, medical bills, furniture financing etc.  

Don't forget about build out of office space, phones, copiers, computers, office furniture, business licenses and possible MLS fees.