I always emphasize doing the work up front so you're not sweating later. 

Happy to share my first rehab and hold property.I purchased the property through a short sale for $230k 2 bed 2 bath 912sq/ft condo in Mira Mesa, San Diego I only worked on it on the weekends and had to remodel the entire unit (2 baths and a kitchen) it took 4 months of 2-3 days a week I paid cash so my only holding costs were $300 month hoa payment so $1500 the total rehab cost including property tax was $19600 after all the dust cleared I am into the property $250k the property value is 300k I pulled 225k out with a mortgage payment of $1650 which covered tax hoa and insurance and am renting it out for 1850 so for the $25000 that I put into it plus my sweat equity I am cash flowing $2400 my first year of owning.

Sweat equity, hard work, and some $ got a $150k increase in value. 

I'm targeting a 9% COC return, or a rehab that can allow me to raise sweat equity to fund the next investment.

Lotta sweat equity initially, and the buy was cheap. 

I caught a huge break in the aftermath of 2008, house hacking my way into my first home, and building sweat equity, eventually turning one property into 2.

I'm not sure what your exit strategy is on the property but if you're trying to flip the property, Let them know that you'll provide the sweat equity and manage the project because you're fully aware they have a lot of deals going on right now.

Good.Sounds like he is ahead of the game, seeing potential not only in real estate, but maybe learning construction aspects to put sweat equity into projects.

If you put in the sweat equity it works great.

@Jen Rogers I recently had a client buy in Bennett and fortunately they were able to get a great on a home that they intend to build sweat equity.