I did go to the REIA meeting except for the major one (had other plans already set up) but I did go to the mystery meeting and the one held at Home Depot and they were decent just not exactly what I expected. 

We may be acquiring a multiunit. 1960's brick built, garden style, 3 story high buildings.The units had parque wood floors up until about 4 years ago.

I recently closed a transaction here in Chicago with loan depot, which I believe is a national company.

My friend has bought a dump of a home in Rainier Avenue area but next to Kubota garden (high demand and gentrifying quickly) for 500K, investing 100K rehab, and planning to sell for 600K.

I am also considering to go to Home Depot or Lows to get familiar with costs of material by myself and also get contacts of various contractors or handymans from my area so that I can just quick give them a call later and find out potential cost by discribing situations.

Its like the post I saw about home depot paint, if something that minor is going to aggravate me, then being a LL probably isnt for me. 

I put white faux-wood 2" horizontal blinds up (Walmart sells a decently priced one by Better Homes and Gardens).

I have my home depot card linked (as this is where I buy most of my materials) and haven't had any issues thus far.

Your best option is to hire a reportable lawn care company and increase the rent to cover the fee.We assign snow removal, grass cutting and keeping of the gardens within of our leases.

Use Home Depot.