so we put about 155k cash into it.40k   rehab  which included  new kitchen Roof.. and finish the basement.. and new front yard.it was a 1920's bungalow so she kept original HW floors and just coated them.. along with the windows were good wiring and plumbing were updated.. so basically new kitchen baths paint roof etc etc.

I needed work on severe wood rot in one of my properties (memphis), and the property manager (Marathon) was suppose to find a contractor who ..exact words on the contract:   Lots of siding on chase(chimney) that needs replaced, will take 9 pieces, 16 ft. then paint repairs $402.50After the work was done I had my agent take before and AFTER pictures.  

It's usually required if you're doing a large renovation of the property, but sometimes not if you're just painting etc. but again - based on your local codes.

The more you work in real estate - whether you're painting houses, selling houses, or doing comparative analyses of housing markets - you'll start learning what you need to know in the niches out there that might be of interest to you.Why don't you start through some of the education and tools tabs from above and tell us what grabs your interest?

The problem is the city requires an itemized list of repairs with estimates of repair for each violation. 90% of the violations are things like peeling paint, windows and doors not working etc.

I can't paint my stock portfolio- or build a deck on an investment acct- I enjoy finding a deal, I enjoy making the property attractive to a tenant- I love seeing rent checks deposited - and I really love that an investment that I can physically put my hands on actually helped me quit my job in my early 40's - I think my love of real estate investing began as a little kid playing Monopoly

Should I rip the tile out or can it be painted? 

I've only worn what I had on that day, so sometimes I was working on the property when they came by and it was scrubby paint stained jeans and t-shirt, and other times, I was coming from work or church and I was wearing finer attire. 

The biggest ordeal is the Windows as well as the exterior paint.

I own Starsacpes F/X of DFW; I paint cosmic murals on ceilings.