Based on your post, I've bolded the titles below that should be most applicable to assisting with estimating costs.For 5+ Multifamily/Commercial in General:Crushing It in Apartments and Commercial Real Estate by Brian Murray - Great Source of InfoThe How to Add Value Handbook for Commercial Real Estate by Brian HennessyThe Due Diligence Handbook for Commercial Real Estate by Brian HennessyFor Large Multifamily and Apartment Syndication the following are recommended :Wheelbarrow Profits by Jake and Gino - Simple, Easy to Read as a good intro.Best Ever Real Estate Syndication Book by Joe Fairless - Detailed, Lot of Information, RecommendedIt's a Whole New Business by Gene Trowbridge - Detailed, ThoroughAdditionally, the "Book on Estimating Rehab Costs" by J.

This property is off of 55th, north of State Ave.Goal is simple:  buy discounted properties, turn them around through proper management and capital investment, thereby forcing appreciation and creating steady cash-flow. 

Great neighborhood and simple cosmetic flip.

I'm not sure I would be buying anything right now if I were a beginner, for the simple fact that there is no need to buy  right now when one could wait ~90 days before making any decisions, and 90 days in real estate is nothing. 

If this is common in your area, then there might be a very simple solution.

Sweet and simple.

That simple strategy saves the landlord time, money, and risk.So, if you see a duplex that has two electrical meters then each side can pay their own electrical quite simply. 

I’m not a lawyer just a simple property manager but one thing (I think) that you could’ve done is that you could’ve had them agree in writing that they were converting their deposit into an ‘early termination fee’ or a ‘lease buy out’ Then none of this would’ve applied.

For apartment, we have options of simple sheet metal or RC-1 channel between walls and floors.

Or do just use a simple excel spreadsheet?