does anyone know of places in the Denver Area where I can find discounted materials for General Contractors? 

The contractors you want don't have very professional advertising, but they all have to come to the watering hole in the morning and pick up their materials for the day.

You can make design selections, deliver materials as needed, construction cleaning, complete checklists for subs work, and provide specialized contracting services not to exceed $x dollars.  

To add onto Matthew Paul's comment, you have mixed material, they are exposed and not insulated.Different materials expand and contract at different rates.  

The information I’ve learned was priceless in knowing what types of materials to use and knowing how not to over-renovate for a rental versus a home we would be building for ourselves.

Essentially, you're looking to trade your current situation for a materially lower cost situation.

Definitely take advantage of the free learning materials offered through this site such as the podcasts and the ebooks (See the "Learn" tab above).  

If anyone has any reading material to point me to (in particular sections of the SEC rules) that would be great.Jean

I'm looking at some properties - one through my agent - offer was verbally presented and seller agent was instructed by their client to not come at them with any offers lower than what is listed (this one is marinating) - other properties have not put in an offer and likely something will come up when my agent is on vacation.Now the one that she and I looked at I know if something materializes while she is gone, it is her deal.How about others that I find myself with no help from an agent - and actually most all are found by me - and I go to an agent other  than my own, or my agent days "go to this person while I'm gone"? 

I forgot to mention the RS Means Estimator series available on Amazon for estimating material and labor unit coats.