During this time I would be saving that $1,200 I was paying in rent for the prior two years since I am used to that money leaving my wallet and save it towards my next downpayment on a rental property.

Full paint and flooring (including removing some wall paper and glued down laminate flooring), patched holes in walls, replaced cabinet doors that were missing, replaced a few lighting fixtures, reconfigured closets that were missing hardware, cleaned up back yard.

She does most of the painting, cleaning, lock installation, mini blind maintenance and replacement, caulking, cabinet hardware change outs, electrical wire pulling, fence post hole digging, etc.

I went with the Amazon suggested option for the diverter to pair with the shower hardware, didn't double check, and it was incorrect.

After much research, planning, goal setting, and purchasing my first two SFR with the VA Loan while moving around duty locations with the Army, I finally took the first action step of building my multifamily portfolio with the purchase of a Duplex several months back.As I begin to build momentum with my purchases, I want to develop a "template" or rather a material list with (color / type / brand/ price / vendor) that would serve as my go to for items such as paint, types of blinds, carpet, flooring, hardware, ceiling lighting etc..

Also hardware and doors and other little replacement items are odd sizes and so you may have a hard time buying off the shelf home depot products to make repairs. 

They're putting their wallets before the financial interests of these families. 

The people at the local hardware store where I usually buy my paint have recommended the Zinsser B.I.N. saying its the only primer that will block the nicotine stain, and as you stated it is very expensive.

I do these all of the time- if this is a rental, middle class sort of area; paint the cabinets, new hardware, new lighting, new appliances, resurface the counters and new flooring and all of the sudden it will look like a million bucks. 

We dont plan on moving any walls or anything big... we do plan on tile work, countertops, lighting/fixture/hardware replacements, taking out old carpeting and replacing with LVP (vinyl plank flooring), replacement of old appliances wtih new stainless plus a moderate master bath remodel (take out old fiberglass tub/shower and make that area pop with new shower w tile and sitting tub.