I have been traveling all around the city checking out different types of materials for flipping.

Simply search on whole-selling here on BP, you will find enough material to fill that course several times over.

So with that, is there a general, "safe" price I could put down for adding a room and bath (material/labor)?

At least not just yet.With that being said, I was wondering if someone could refer me to the top online schools (inexpensive, up to date material).

It seems repairs can be estimated on the age of the home, and the square footage.However my question is - How do I decide which materials (based on price, aesthetics) to buy when stores like Home Depot, Lowes have a lot to choose from.Does the contractor pick out a good deal of it, or is it all the investors discretion?

By starting out with these types of study materials you will see how the investor strategies fall into place and you can understand the relationships between one strategy and another making it much easier to grasp the basics of any investing approach.There was recently a question here on BP asking about a roadway easement where an investor wanted to bid on a property but didn't know if they would have access.

To me it comes down to the type of materials the buyer wants to spend to fix up the house.

that is a very good point (like all feedback above). here's how my mind works during the process. tell me what i am doing wrong...1. i finance all properties, so i need 25% down (55-75 purchase). that equates to around 20k at closing.2. spend around 10-15 ti fix up (so total of around 35k to get a house and get it ready)3. last house a contractor wanted 5k for: 10 interior doors, 10 cabinets with custom laminate counter, fix some plumbing (minor), dont even remember if the paint was included, blinds. i dont think it was. and that's just labor. not materials or anything.4. my holding costs are cheap - around 250-300 per month.since it takes me a awhile to gather 35k, i have the "luxury" to do stuff myself. also, the contractor wanted around 5k to do the work... that would be around 1yr of holding costs.but yes... i know i am missing on potential rental income. does this make sense?

There are obviously costs involved with obtaining and maintaining a license to consider as well, but one successful transaction could easily cover your expenses for the year.Your upfront costs would be:- Classes / materials to cover the education requirement- Testing and finger-printing fees (for the actual licensing exam and background check)**You will need to be sponsored by a broker in order to have an active salesperson license, so you'll need to figure out this piece as wellYour ongoing costs will include:- NAR (National Association of Realtors) dues- TAR (Texas Association of Realtors) dues- HAR (Houston Association of Realtors) dues- MLS access fees (assessed quarterly)Again, most of the answer(s) to your question really depend on what type of investing you're looking to do.

A new contractor may come in at 70% or on rehabs in smaller amounts, a seasoned contractor that has years with a lender may have other arrangements dragging off 100% of lot costs and materials with labor.