Thanks in advance on any feedback,Zach (Structural Engineer In-Training in Indiana)    

I'm graduating from San Jose State University with a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering.

LolaHi Lola,You might want to encourage the board to get 3 or 4 more bids for the block work.Perhaps get an architect (or an engineer) to help you write up a "Written Bid Request" for the (Needed) and (Optional) repair work.With a written bid request, you can be sure you are comparing apples to apples, and getting the required work done.Also, the Architect or Engineer may have a list of workmen to share with you that they have used successfully in the past on similar jobs.Good Luck! 

It's interesting that I too have an engineering back ground, once worked in oil and gas, and once lived in Houston.

I was self employed as a cinema engineer and COVID shut it down.

I'm considering leaving my full time job as a high school math teacher to pursue real estate full time, I've been in education for four years now, since I graduated from college where I studied Biomedical Engineering (my life has taken me on a wild ride so far). 

On every property we purchase, a third party engineer inspects and laser measures the property before we begin our renovation.  

Tax rates and eviction rates are easy to find via search engine.  

I was an engineer in 2007, bought first rental in 2009, got 11 turnkeys in 2015.

A fully engineered cost seg is just one permissible method to accomplish that.