They use spreadsheets, contractor quotes, and research to learn but after that it becomes second nature.

Snap a pic of contractor truck/van info at red-lights.  

added a bedroom and bathroom. new paint, flooring, kitchen, bathroom , appliances, lighting, windows, etcWhat was the outcome?

I just need to get some more general information (you're thinking naturally I cant make an uneducated offer) from you..

I am concerned with the animal nature of #2 and potential problems there.What are your thoughts? 

And light bulbs.

Work with a good INVESTMENT agent in the area you want to buy in.Here in columbus ohio if you tell me you want 10+% cashflow and value add and have 20K, I'm going to recommend you house hack and put 5% down and do some light cosmetic work while you live on one side for a year in a B-C neighborhood.Not much can go wrong when you buy a 150K duplex that you are living in as long as you run your numbers and do your due diligence :)It won't be a home run but gets your feet wet and you'll learn a lot and buy better and better deals as you go.

We did some remodeling in the vacant one (spent about 8K on floors, painting, new vanity in a bathroom, and redid kitchen that we hired out and my husband is a master electrician so he put in new switches and fixed any lighting issues and a couple other little things) and we put it at market rent.

Please shed some light on this syndication deal, any expert advise would be highly appreciated. 

We have fixed multiple areas of the house including electrical, plumbing, added washers and dryers, added solar powered security lights, built an office, built a patio which increased the value of the house.