We used hot mud first, sanded and did a light topping coat, then finished with texture to match the other walls.  

If you have lights that hang from the walls (not ceilings) and baseboard located plugs, it may (no guarantee) be an indicator that there is knob and tube.

I'm not sure how much time you need to manage contractors to take calls, and if a good amount of it can wait till the evenings or weekends- maybe someone can shed some light on this.

I would tread lightly and get help from an attorney in case you have a savvy/devious tenant.For example... in Washington State there are protections against evicting tenants based on domestic violence issues."

@Jd Martin the kitchen and bathroom have both been remodeled the only thing I have left is the master bedroom upstairs still needs a new ceiling paint and I am doing laminate flooring the second smaller bedroom upstairs flooring is almost complete other than that the rest is light paint in two rooms downstairs.

Once I get can an inspection and get the service line upgraded to 200 amps, we'll have AC and lights and be able to move in.

Do I need a licensed electrician to repair a light fixture.

This will help you get a better idea of what tile, hardwood, carpet, plumbing fixtures and light fixtures costs for your rehabs.#3 Contact Local Contractors for Labor Pricing / Hire a GC to ConsultCall local Subcontractors and get budget pricing for common repairs on your typical rehab project.For example, call a roofer and ask what their average cost per Square of Architectural Asphalt Shingle Roofing would be on a 1,500 sf house, with a 6/12 pitch.Note: Some contractors will be reluctant to share pricing without seeing the property, but tell them you are just looking for a rough budget number you can use on future projects.You can also pay a General Contractor a consulting fee of a couple of hundred dollars (per house) to walkthrough a few properties with you and provide a detailed estimate of prices that you can use as your 'menu for future projects.#4 Compile Your Prices into a Spreadsheet or Estimating SoftwareOnce you start to get a better understanding of Labor and Material costs you will want to store this data into a spreadsheet or software that you can use to help you streamline the estimating process.The Book on Estimating Rehab Costs comes with a spreadsheet that you can use to help you populate your own database of labor pricing and material pricing.

The cheaper houses we use prefab and the more expensive houses we use custom.For lighting and fixtures, it's all a matter of how much time you have.

They are living in home now without too many gripes, but cosmetic damages from foundation have opened up cracks to outside (light/air coming through home that they have plugged with plastic bags).- Repairs for flip estimated at $37-$44k (foundation, cosmetic, flooring, windows, doors, bathrooms/kitchen, etc.).