The insurance software will spit out typical retail prices.As an investor, you want to know what you should be paying, which is typically going to be less than retail (and less than HD labor prices).There's no shortcut -- you'll need to talk to contractors and look at materials. 

We have an event coming up in April at HD HQ scheduled by @Andrew CordleLook forward to connecting with you here on BP and hopefully you can make it to the HD event.Good Luck

Now some states - if you own in a LLC, they would not allow you to pull a permit -If you want to pull permits for other contract work- YES I would get the lic.I dont see where I saved any money -ie lowes/HD by having a HI lic. - I get discounts from my volume.An Hi also helps with WC.

HD is good as well as Stone stated.Oh about the pool, it's hit and miss.

I guarantee that HD sells most of their commodities for the same or close to the same in the San Francisco area that they do in my little town.

Also, look into a credit card that may be a good tool for this like the HD mentioned above, or Wells Fargo has a Home Projects Visa. 

I replaced the vanity with a $69 special from HD.

But at HD, Amazon or even Walmart.

Right now I'm doing most of the work myself and I see a lot of the same guys at HD everyday.

Always making a HD or Lowes trip for something.