It always seems to take longer, cost more and cause more stress than I plan 

If they didn't have access to their kitchen and the hotel didn't have a kitchenette, they are impacted with higher costs to eat while they were displaced. 

Yes, there is a plethora of leases floating around the internet, but if you want to manage your property properly, it requires a lease agreement that fits the way you want to do business and helps you to cover costs, avoid liabilities, and increase revenue. 

I have had conflicting advice from cost segregation specialist versus our CPA.

to be direct: your first property, and possibly first several properties, are likely going to cost you money. 

Time and time again when I tried to cut costs by having a 'handy man' do a contractors job to save an owner money it bites me!

A cookie cutter first deal looks like:Purchase: 65k - 90kRehab: 50k - 75kARV = Project Cost/.7Neighborhood: B or betterRehab type: cosmeticAvg Days on Market in zip code: 30 or lessThat's an example of a very safe deal for a lender to fund for a newbie.For a 0 experience expect to pay 11.5%+ in interest.Keep in mind the cost of a project's lifecycle. 

What is a reasonable way to apply an estimated tax benefit of the interest deduction vs. the tax on increased positive cash flow vs. invested income? 

Air restriction was causing my system to freeze and over work.After 3 months the cost of this mat is $400/ month + $300 service charge. 

You can use the cost of the land and the other costs you have already spent toward the down payment, so I suspect you won't have to inject anything else into the deal.