These surfaces are typically scraped but you could also replace them based on cost estimates. 

For newbies I recommend adding 20% on top of estimated  budget whenever penciling out repair costs.  

The loan officer won't be able to be predetermine and estimate who you hire and the cost for the architect.I would call your loan officer and be crystal clear to fix the situation. 

Hi All,I want to first start out by saying thank you to the many of you that I have had the chance to connect with through Bigger Pockets, both over lunch/coffee and here online.With that being said, over the past two years, my wife and I have virtually eliminated all of our "bad" debt and currently saving capital for our first real estate investment purchase.We have truly been committing ourselves to better understanding the in's and out's through our own research and are getting much closer to finally taking action.I am from San Diego, recently moved to Orange County, and I'm sure as many of you know the entry level capital required for investing in CA is quite high due to the cost of living (I could be completely mistaken as I only know the OC & SD market to an extent).

About the Deal:On MLS for 320 daysHeld in a rev trust Listed for around 300k - I would want to put an offer in around 200, or less.Property inspection is available for viewing; it is 90 pages long (basically everything except structure needs attention)Estimated repairs around 200k. 

Take every chance you get to tell everyone about what you are doing. 

I too am appalled at the increasing inability to get a second chance in the USA, a country founded,  developed and built on second chances. 

And how can you quantify investment risk to figure out if it’s a chance you want to take?

Do I go look at the property first then make ARV or do I Make an estimate  fill out the contract before I look at the property?

. $30.00 is the maximum fee for a payoff demand statement that can be charged under California law.Page 2 of 5To: Title Company ("Escrow Holder")Estimated Closing Date: In two weeksRe: Property address ("Property")("Seller")__________________________________________________________________________________________DEMAND FOR FULL PAYMENTPLEASE COMPLETE IN FULLEnclosed are:1) Original Note for $_________________________________2) Deed of Trust (original preferred), and3) Substitution of Trustee and Deed of Reconveyance executed by all beneficiaries.