Try looking at it a slightly different way with some quick math:$900,000 sales price$22,500 cost of purchase (appraisal, points, lender fees, title fees, etc - 2.5%)$90,000 cost of sale (10% commissions, closing costs, buyer credits)$64,000 carrying costs (6 months at 10%)$25,000 additional carrying costs (6 months taxes, utilities, HOA, misc)$100,000 rehab cost (the number used above)$68,500 profit = $530,000 max allowable offer.Some numbers may be a bit high, others may be a bit low. 

The process isn't complicated - but managing shady Cleveland contractors isn't ideal for people with high-tempo careers LOL That's why I'm trying to get a gist of the different ways people do this. 

The property is a 6-unit building in Los Angeles.Given the significant difference in current rents vs. market rates, I'm looking for advice on how to legally and ethically approach raising the rents to reflect market value, should I decide to move forward with the purchase.Some additional context: even if I were to negotiate a better (reasonable) price and were to successfully evict a tenant who is 5 months behind on their rent and charge the market rent for that unit I'd still be -$600/month. 

There are a number of them around the Seattle area as well as some different investor Facebook groups.By meeting other investors you will be able to get information from different people utilizing different strategies that work in this area and determine which are the most interesting to you.

He has lied to me about different things and will not answer me and most of the time he just ignores me.

The difference between what they are saying that I owe and what I believe I owe is $370 which would be two weeks worth of rent.  

I'd greatly appreciate any recommendations or suggestions on how i could go about this process differently. 

Turning a corner could have a different investment trajectory.

Do I need to provide them with a scope of work or will they look through and give me a general cost for different aspects of the house? 

What they do differently is find off-market deals through various lead sources they created over time, and they're supposed to send them your way according to your criteria.As you continue to work with them, you'll build a relationship with them, and they'll send you these leads before everyone else.