Hello, I saw a house in the San Diego area yesterday, it looked like it just needed paint, carpet and updated fixtures from the pictures. 1980 built, but it looked like there is some water damage from a window and I don't know how much I should estimate for a repair.

What are specifications for damages within your contract?  

If you are using licensed contractors, they should be bonded and insured so if they do anything that destroys the house, their insurance should cover it.  99% of what you are trying to protect is against damage that would destroy the house (Weather, Fire, etc).

I may try another property with less damage, hoping for the best.

The tenant can describe damage, attach photos and set the priority of issue.

If it is a plywood underlayment and not damaged other than wet I would just dry it and seal it.

Yeah I have a friend in army with 706 credit so I don't have to rely on parents credit and from looking at the house its just cosmetic needs like paint carpet and maybe a little modern updates but everyone once you start taking things apart there maybe some other damaged underneath but from the look I think 10,000 in repairs would do the job.

Imagine our surprise when a former tenant who owes about $1200 in damages beyond what her security deposit covered contacted us asking about setting up a payment plan to repay!

They'll send out an adjuster to assess the damage/cause/liability.

It protects the complex when tenants act like humans and cause damage to person or property, the tenants insurance pays, not the complex.