You get a referral like you did from your realtor and you're borrowing his or her social equity with that contractor, then I can see the contractor doing a one off.

Personally, as long as my expense - including the HOA fee, is acceptable, I am good with it. 

Does $2,400 include all expenses?

Thus far, my experience in real estate includes helping to renovate his first buy and hold property as well as just shy of a hundred BP Podcasts and a smattering of other REI research!

There are many on here (myself included) who are happy to share experience.

You could spell it out in the P&S that the landlord is to continue with the eviction (including paying for it) and then you close when it is over and done.

Would including an agreement in escrow to deed the property back in case of default be sufficient recourse?

He said hd/lowes can sometimes beat him on the carpet + install initial price, but where they get you is the "Specialty Items" like tack strips and transitions that aren't included and are grossly overpriced.

Right now, I'm absorbing any information I can pertaining to the field of real estate investing, including podcasts, blogs, books, and articles. 

Different pictures on every social media account.