Repair Value Question

[Devyn Caraballo]

Hi BiggerPockets family! Hope all is well! 

How do you estimate repair costs without having a walk through of the property? Do you just send pictures to the contractor? Do you ask the real estate agent who posted the property what big repairs the property needs? 

[Bob Okenwa]

@Devyn Caraballo

Reallistically, you don't estimate costs based on listing photos. Photos only tell part of the story and rehab costs should be estimated in-person to get accurate numbers. Asking the listing agent about repairs probably wouldn't get you very far as real estate agents are not contractors and wouldn't be able to tell you about galvanized plumbing or shake-shingle roofing.