I was 6 yrs old so my help was limited to giving my dad the wrong tools.Personally, I don't think you need to know everything, but understanding basic construction process, ball parking costs, and finding or having good contractors all helps the process.  

@ Ann - It does seem like you PrM dropped the ball.

Obviously nobody has a crystal ball, and even the best predictions are subject to black swan events (as this past year has proven). 

It's great to get the ball rolling early, so best of luck to you in your investing career

We spotted this home with a pole barn in the dead of winter, in the neighborhood we were moving to, did some comps and made a low-ball offer.

We spotted this home with a pole barn in the dead of winter, in the neighborhood we were moving to, did some comps and made a low-ball offer.

We spotted this home with a pole barn in the dead of winter, in the neighborhood we were moving to, did some comps and made a low-ball offer.

We spotted this home with a pole barn in the dead of winter, in the neighborhood we were moving to, did some comps and made a low-ball offer.

We spotted this home with a pole barn in the dead of winter, in the neighborhood we were moving to, did some comps and made a low-ball offer.

Its a balance between not being seen as uncompassionate landlord that is basically saying " I don't care about your stroke, pay me my $$" and the LL that gets strung along and loses more and more $$ along he way....I would reach out to the family again and get an update.... if after a couple of attempts I would start the legal proceedings and let the family know that your are obligated to follow that path..... it can EASILY be stopped if everything gets resolved, but if you keep dragging it out, you are delaying the LONG legal process and losing even more $$..... you start the ball rolling and you pick it up or let it keep rolling depending on how things play out