I may be able to shed some light on the property and appraisal issues that you are facing.

I have watched dozens of BP videos, attended Guru events, read many books on REI and in my opinion the education from Renatus is light years ahead of any other education on the topic you will find.

But provide the basics -- water, heat, working electricity and lights, no safety hazards, proper safety equipment (smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors), make sure windows and doors all lock and door jambs are secure and the place is clean -- no previous construction debris, no previous tenant debris, no bugs/critters.Then there's the matter of the rent and security deposit. 

Towns like Jersey City and Union in Union County -- two of the most culturally and racially diverse towns in the state -- look like colored television static, with a near even distribution of each racial category.The Route 1 and 9 corridor shimmers green, reflecting the the vast number of immigrants who have settled in the region from Asia.

You and the home inspector can check it for obvious silly things, like not having two ways out of the bedroom, or a light switch that is on the far side of the bedroom (instead of by the door), or only one outlet for a 12' x 12' bedroom, or no central heating in the bedroom, or whatever. 

Even now, I can't change a lock or a light fixture.

Now I'm realizing that I'm going to have to itemize this huge stack of receipts to figure out which property each one pertains to.I've read elsewhere that if supplies, e.g. light bulbs, paint, etc.

After the replacement cost has been figured, consideration must be given to the following factors:Physical deterioration—the wear and tear on the building itself,Functional obsolescence—usually in older buildings with, for example, inadequate lighting, plumbing, or heating, small rooms, or a poor floor plan, andEconomic obsolescence—outside forces causing the whole area to become less desirable.Deductions of More Than $5,000Generally, if the claimed deduction for an item or group of similar items of donated property is more than $5,000, you must get a qualified appraisal made by a qualified appraiser, and you must attach Section B of Form 8283 to your tax return.

The different colors of mold range from white to black, including, but not limited to, green, gray, brown, orange, yellow and other colors.

Nope just looking at paint colors.