Let me explain... a brand new 3 bed 2 bath 2 car garage home that sells for $127,900 only rents for $1200 per month.Compared to a 30 year old home that sells for $85,000 and rents for $950 per month.However, a brand new 25 year Owens Corning shingle roof, high efficiency HVAC unit, new hot water heater, Delta faucets, and local code is much more strenuous today compared to 30 years ago.Building materials are more efficient and homes are much better insulated. 

Don't want to break the bank, but want to keep an eye on all my material. 

Your tools and materials will get stolen.

I do acknowledge that labor rates in the flyover areas are substantially lower, but base material costs are really not that different.  

When you have questions arising from the material, post on the forum. 

That should have been done at the first sign of trouble.You need to keep a real estate lawyer on retainer to review all of your transactions and pounce on anyone who doesn't perform costing you money.

I've seen articles for documentation to retain as a landlord, but I want to ensure I provide my tenants will all needed documentation as well. 

I am guessing that it is because they can't make enough profit due to rising costs of land, labor, and materials. 

The bad thing with this is that material costs and home prices normally increase, but the policy coverage will only decrease.  

Plus, price varies vastly on materials used.