Hello real estate peopleI have a situation where this year i have to pay to the IRS on taxes..Situationmy AGI income is 160k....work In IT for a big corporationi have 9 houses, i maxed out the deductions...repairs, supplys, new refrigerators....etc.......i have stopped adding deductions for the realestate as they are not dropping my money due to the IRS..on Tax software...

Sticki situationWhether cigarette or other smoke, thats life, and why many ppl live in single family

You don't need a shed unless you plan on keeping things in there after moving out (like a lawn mower if you plan on mowing the lawn after moving out, tools, supplies etc.).A carport seems excessive (I know it gets hot in Texas but a tenant is more likely to drive into it and knock it over - I wouldn't put anything past tenants).As far as countertops go it depends on what the current counters look like.

Contractors are in high demand right now and some trades like framers are in short supply. 

This time we're buying from a contractor supply house rather than from the big box stores.

In prior years, I listed them as "supplies" and split the cost equally among my active properties on Schedule E, but now I am wondering if they should have been "assets" instead.

At high noon on a weekday there are three or more charcoal grills smoking in the front yards of any given block.Two or more cars up on cinder blocks on any given block.Pit bulls in yard with low fences bearing "Trespassers Will Be Eaten" signs.Watch for the crazy cat lady's house.

Ask them income, job, number of people, whether they smoke or not, what there credit is, why they are moving, etc. 

The house shutoff (versus the main shutoff) should always be after the water utility meter (referring to before and after from the supply side). 

As with any market Supply and Demand play their role.