Effectively, what I want to do is pay somebody $50K extra in management fees, in return for their taking on the risk of higher vacancies and repair costs, etc.

I would like to be able to lowball a few offers to buy so that I can repair something as far as paint and possibly flooring , maybe a few other small repairs.

I guess the best advice is rent to own with.specifics in the contract stating the tenant is reponsible for repairs.

What I have in mind is make an offer at 65% of the ARV, $10K-15K as my assignment fee and the repair costs (if any at all).

They are worthwhile (this one was a list price of $83,900, FMV $135,000, needs about $25k in repair, our purchase price is $32,000.

If you like to "hope so and wait" type of person, choose stocks.Real estate on the other hand has all the benefits.Their values are like a slow moving train that youget to inspect, repair, rent, insure, buy 7 different ways,sell 7 different ways.You can see it coming (appreciate) and going (depreciate)in time enough to get on and get off and make a profitbefore, during, after, and all around.There is no comparison - real estate is the best hands downas long as you're competent(take all costs into consideration) and prepared(have the best support team).Sure yo can kind of be 'competent' and sort of 'prepared'in buying/selling stocks, but again, it is still a "hope so and wait" 'technique'.

I'm just looking to guesstimate repairs on a property that I may put an offer on.

I have in mine "Buyer may conduct his own personal inspections and approve or disaprove of conditions and or necessary repairs required to property."

Buying , Fixing, and Selling, 4 month time frame, (I hope)I am not a handyman, so estimating repair cost is a reach.A poster on this site suggested to use the $5K rule to estimate repair cost5k to fix/update any major house component.

Find a Realtor that you want to work with, or even someone who will run you comps for a little bit of money Have them run comps on the ARV (After Repair Value - read "fixed up").