Is it really that fat of a chance to be able to contact/ work something out with them?

Where this is an REO, I have no access to the previous utilities data, but given the boiler was an older oil burner (76% efficient), the envelope has little to no insulation and the windows (single pain with storms, which have not been maintained) and doors are all original, I expect the ~2375 ft^2 building was averaging 300 - 400/month in heating costs.  

So you want to have a fat cushion, in case.   

I think I am going to put him on the back burner and keep searching for funding. 

@Marc Middleton, @Mark Taliercio & @Caleb Heimsoth,On this topic, look at this as if you were a BP Investor wanting to learn about REAL money saving strategies being shared by a Florida Mortgage Broker.We all know that the 3 points in home equity that the seller is offering to give away to ANY buyer agent that brings a qualified buyer is out there for the taking, like a low hanging big, fat, juicy apple...or Orange in Florida! 

Also, losing fat and weight through low carb/low fat diets and not gaining any muscle, left me looking like a stick.

For now we'll concentrate on building up reserves...my thinking is that fat reserves will provide the same security that a paid off property would give us.

To answer to problems with natural gas burners:1.

LOLYou have to get them on the TOTAL cost of the total work they are doing.It sounds like the guy was quoting okay on the roof and then making much more profit on the gutters.When you split on him he raised the roof to keep his profit up.My buildings are just standard pitch with 4,800 sq ft 4 plexes.I got the roofs re-shingled for 1,500 a roof and the trash hauled away.You can find contractors that want extra work on the side that will do it for cheap.You have to catch them at the right time.It depends on what you are installing for.A long term hold for yourself,a short term hold where the building needs to be torn down for development in 5 years,a higher end flip.All will dictate what kind of finish you want and cost involved.Roofers typically love the retail jobs with fat profits but in between want the volume from investors.I tell many contractors NO all the time even after I tell them I am an investor and want rock bottom pricing.They tell me they will do it for me but not to tell the other investors what they charge me.This way they get volume from me and referrals and the other investors still get a really good deal but not the pricing I get.

Good thing about building your buyers list up nice and fat is that you may be able to find someone that wants it even though it looked like a non deal.