They pick and choose the most cost effective projects to DIY and hire contractors for everything else.

Something interesting about myself is that I picked up the banjo a couple of years ago and play daily. 

To get appraisers to pick up the appraisal, money talks.

@Danny Jimenez Typically you pick sources that research such information and either pay for it or find in free formats.

You wouldn't just hand a wad of cash to a guy to go down to the car dealer and pick you out a car; you'd visit the dealership, hopefully test drive the car, look up the values in Kelly Blue book, maybe let your mechanic look it over, make sure they gave you a valid title without liens, etc.

This lonely corner of the world is ripe for the picking after the current real estate hot spots dry out so lets get a leg up on them and make our small towns beautiful in the process.

Moved to Memphis 18 months ago and picked up some rentals. 

We do see some buyers picking these up now, so just depends on your market and what you have to do to get the contract.This looks like lenders estimate to me....so they like to be safe and estimate high. 

Talk to people after the auction that bought properties, offer to take them to lunch to pick their brain.How to do the research and narrowing down your best properties is the key to success in this business. 

I picked GA BC of lower property tax and it's a landlord friendly state.