There are socio-economic elements to these deals and you need the ability to manage personalities and be able to kick them out if necessary.

If the guy out of the company is needed as the construction guy or any needed element for the business, contract the service prior to the loan so that his abilities are considered in the deal without involving him with the lender

Adding bright colors to the exterior elements of your home—the front door, shutters etc. is a great way to enhance your home with minimum effort and expense.

Great list @Ky Sharp If you are confident in your analysis and buying all cash the appraisal/bpo isn't necessary but an appraisal may help you negotiate if it comes in low.We like to have two or three mgt companies walk the property during due diligence and propose their mgt plan that includes a capex and/or repositioning budget.If the subject property and all properties nearby are the only things ever built on the land there you may not need a phase 1 environmental but if it's a large property and/or you're bringing in outside capital (lenders or equity partners/investors) having one demonstrates your thoroughness and professionalism even if one is not required.If there isn't a recent survey one it may be required but if one is not required getting a new one falls under the same considerations as above.We have gone to always having an engineer do the inspection even though it can be 2x what a non-engineer inspector may charge.

I was told that there are crucial elements of investigating a property before even attempting to buy it.

You're absolutely spot on about it; never let anyone else do your thinking for you, it's a key element to investing.

Keep in mind, in writing the book, I would not be surprised if he change "unimportant" elements of the book to reserve privacy.

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/landlord-tax-deductions-environmental-cleanup-costs.html @Steven Hamilton II @Steve Babiak based on the article in the above link you guys seem to be right on about it being an improvement.

So what's within your walls is yours, but, your still paying for common elements and use of the property as a whole, hence the reason for HOA dues.

All 3 of those elements combined with EBB can produce very high electric bills.