For an even bigger discount, get a cash back credit card and pay off your lowes/HD account with said credit card.The BIGGEST reason to get an account is invoice tracking.

I want avoid as many problems as possible when I do my first flip and contractor problems are some of the biggest risk I see.

The second biggest cost that sinks rehab projects is continuing carry costs, and that includes hard money fees.

I am a physician and had the fortune/misfortune of starting my practice in 1982 at the start of the biggest bull run in stock market history so real estate wasn't on my radar till the dotcom meltdown of 2000-2002.

The biggest challenge that I see is getting loans after you turn off your W2 income.

Before the previous landlord had odds and ends maintenance people doing it when they get around to it.I don't like this because sometimes the property looks good and other times junkie and unkept.A professional service is more dependable and runs like clock work.I had a lawn company come out that was not the biggest but not the smallest operation.There are 5 buildings of flat land situated each on about 1/2 acre to 3/4 acre.The lawn guy quoted 200 a month but wanted a year round contract.I don't like that as mainly most get yard work completed in the summer time.In the winter time and fall is mainly just leaf blowing etc.Even though these are 1/2 acre in size I feel that the work is minimal.Unlike a house where sometimes the land is hilly these are flat.Unlike a house which is mainly yard with a small driveway these building have a driveway with a parking lot.So the actual green space to mow is very small for each parcel.I just can't in my mind justify 2,400 a year for lawn maintenance.Wondering what others here do.I can't do it myself as I am very busy working with clients.For this one month I am having a contractor do it for cheap but not long term.

Plus, if you are buying soon and fixing up, sounds like you will be missing the major rental season (summer) and might be without any serious rental income till early summer 2011.Not knowing the particulars (as the price point at which you can get it down to will be the biggest item), if they don't come down much, you might going through a deal with High Risk but a Low potential return.

The biggest is that any retail appraisal would have a large variation in potential values and may not have any relationship to what a retail buyer might pay.

It's better than Kilz and I wish I had known about it when I did mine. http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/67/topics/78889-smoker-rehab-keys-to-success-with-tobacco-smoke--before-after-picshttp://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2012/11/05/getting-rid-tough-odors/I know for pet odors there are some enzyme neutralizers, you may want to get some for the sub floor under the carpet areas help with that.http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/67/topics/74253-cat-pee-in-concreteThe biggest cheap first step is to just literally wash everything down.

Your biggest expenses are generally going to be leaking roof's and central a/c units.