Since I tend to deal with basket cases I can usually safely assume that we are looking at all new flooring, for example, so on 1000sf I might mentally note $4-5k for flooring, and then adjust that after I walk the property - maybe all the HW can be refinished, or maybe there's a room or two that needs a subfloor/joist repair before we even get to the finished floor.

I tend to like to do a tumbled marble backsplash with an accent in the middle (running through the switches and outlets).

@Jacob KrafkaThere has been a lot of changes in real estate markets mostly.I understand the local market and setup investment goals before I look at a deal.Get in touch with a local agent or investor and shorten your learning curve and save you a lot of headaches as they tend to understand the market better.All the best!

Once you get into framing, there's a lot of things to know about vapor barriers, ground contact lumber, mold-resistant materials, etc.In my opinion, this isn't a DIY type of project unless you're a licensed contractor.

I tend to start with one of the front of the property, two of the kitchen, one to two of the living area, the bathroom, etc.

Sellers tend to give incomplete/inaccurate information.

This tends to be more art than science.Finally you narrow in on the property.

Yes, it just depends on your market.In Pasadena, my tenants tend to be 20-30 somethings.

That means that the properties will go back on the market in January and February, which tends not to be a great time to sell, but the deals were good enough when I bought that it doesn't matter.Buying in March or April will probably yield the easiest sales (as you'll put them on the market in May or June, most likely), but this is a very competitive time to buy, and in my experience, it's tough to find great deals in the Spring.Things may be different in your area, of course...

For the most part, my time and effort are going to be same, regardless of the extent of the project.That said, larger projects tend to have larger risks, and for projects with higher risk, I'll tend to look for greater opportunity for returns.