I have listened to thousands of hours of BP podcasts (as well as others) and audio books on the various forms of investing.I am "that guy" with 800+ credit, what I believe to be more than adequate knowledge, great communication skills, a real estate sales background, and very little REI experience.I'm anxious to find a great Core 4 (Lenders, Deal Finders, Contractors, Property Managers) and start a successful buy-and-hold REI career, locally and/or long distance. 

Otherwise, vet your contractor based on their quality of work and management skills and live with the results.

That's the information you need from them.Otherwise, they're gasbags with too much money trying to tell us peons how to live.Sure, I'm an investor, I believe in free markets, getting paid what you're worth based on your skills, education is important, everything is a financial decision, etc.

@Joe Facenda Using my little investment knowledge and math skills, I roughly checked the numbers based on what 1,000sqft 2 bed/2baths rent for in that area currently.

Background...the company I worked for since 2007 has recently been bought by a public, soon to be traded, Real Estate Investment Trust with a goal of aggregating 10,000+ units in the next 24 months (we're already a third of the way there). 

Those are your trade offs.

Estimating repairs is a skill that takes some time and practice.

I like Bozeman because I have seen 80's-90's vintage deals with classic vintage (formica counters, original vinyl floors, classic vintage fixtures, white/black appliances, etc.) trade for >6.25-7.00% caps going in with value add upside for those willing to hunker down and make upgrades in order to realize rent upside.

I'm looking forward to using the Bigger Pockets community to sharpen my skills and learn as much as I can about Real Estate Investing!

If you need a license to do the work like electrical or plumbing, your costs go up, since it is expensive to get those skills.