Take the equity and buy a structurly sound house that just needs paint and updating, sell, take that money and buy another and do the same plus a small home or condo to rent out and build from there.What can I do to improve on this basic plan?

Be it plumbing,painting,drywalling or whatever is a tough business.

So it is a busy season... contractors often don't return calls. you book appointments with them  and they never show up , or show up gives a bid and then say they actually  booked...I have two properties in Kansas City right now that needs exterior and interior paint job.its about 4000-4500 budget for eachI purchase all paintfinally two  contractors bid and ready to do it but  insist on getting 1000 to 2000 upfront  for each property before they start .I am not too excited paying someone I dont know those amounts.can any of you who are experience in rehabs have a creative solution not to losethose contractors but reduce the risk?

They slap some new paint and steam clean the carpet and put it on the market where I'll use higher grade paint that is professionally painted ( at a good price) and put down laminate/hardwoods and upgrade or replace the central/heat air. 

Once completed, small parches for the holes and then paint. 

you could get lead paint disturbed, asbestos flying around, and code issues.  

Haven't changed my interior paint palette in six years. 

Secondly, if you had a contract with him and he has breached it, consider talking with an attorney, be make sure not to breach the contract yourself.Third, structure contracts with contractors that favor you regarding when payment is made.On my last rehab I had an executed rehab contract where I paid 1/3 after paint was complete 1/3 after flooring was complete and 1/3 after the kitchen was remodeled.

They are trying to sabotage us; exaggerating things and painting the entire project negatively.Then there are people second-guessing us, while others are claiming we hijacked the land on which the hotel stands.

Make ready costs (i.e. cleanup, touch up painting, minor repairs., etc).