He dissects this question, and many other related questions, skillfully. 

Choose an area that has good schools, shopping, is safe, etc.Don't buy something with a renovation that is out of your scope (skills, money).

The major difference is their mindset and skill level.

A house will be too far gone if it is in excess of the budget constraints or the skill level of the executor.   

Once you determine that, ask yourself what talent/skills/experience/capital you have to be of service to others in the real estate space?

Leverage your skills and abilities and find a side hustle to bring in some extra cash.

I did the Career Skills Program at a realty group. 

Not everyone has the time and skill set to do everything themselves using the BRRRR approach.

(There are services that will write and produce them if you lack the skills or time and advertising often will make it profitable.)Moving out older and smaller homes and replacing them with new and larger homes that are more attractive to higher income buyers and residents is always the primary strategy, unless you have a special market situation.

Sellers also do not pay the wholesaler for finding a buyer or for the services they provide, that is the wholesaler's job to make sure they get paid, through skillful negotiations and having correct knowledge of their market and knowing what their buyer network will pay.