Some will go with a nicer pad and a cheaper carpet.The nicer pad makes the carpet FEEL more expensive to the tenant when they walk on it.A great pad also resists wear and tear and if you need to replace the carpet the pad usually can be used again.Used to you would put a plastic membrane in between the carpet and pad to protect the pad but the plastic would slide and make noise sometimes.Now they have pads with built in protection.You are not looking for the cheapest product but the best VALUE for what you pay.It depends on the area and what kind of tenants and rent base you are working with.

I think newer mortar is better because of plasticizing binders.

I am practicing running comps and some of the properties I am looking at have patios and stoops.

HVAC duct work insulation is also deteriorated.No vapor barriers installed eitherSome fungi/mold growth notedPlumbingMultiple small leaks under sinks and from bathtub and toilets.House has Polybutylene plastic plumbing which is dangerousMain shut off valve is damagedElecticalSome small exposed wiring and bad splicing.Whole house has no GFCI's or grounding outletsInteriorMoisture spots on ceilingExteriorLose Vinyl SidingDoor Jams and Window trim have moisture damageDriveway need replacementRoofingMinor leaks noted in atticRecommended to replace roof covering, but not whole roofSome fungi growth noted in roofSo some of the question I am trying to tackle with this work is:How much should I budget for the main issues listed? 

Investment Info: Multi-family residential buy & hold investment located a 20-mile drive or 25-minute ferry ride from downtown Boston in the beach town of Hull, Massachusetts, also known as Nantasket Beach.Purchase price: $550,000 in 2016Cash invested: $137,500 from 1031 exchange (75% mortgage)A 14-unit property on a corner lot, and it includes an adjacent lot as well (10,000 sq ft total lot size, double the town median lot size), giving an exceptionally large patio, yard, parking areas front and back, and a storage shed.

The only rental claim I had a tenant submit for renters insurance was denied (condo flooded due to an exterior patio drain backing up) and they felt that damaged was not their liability. 

Recommendations include moving the patio away from the house and adding a retaining wall.Other considerations:I already have a team in place locally to manage the property and handle repairsI visit the area biannuallyThere’s another couple interested in the property and supposedly making an offer.I haven’t secured preapproval for a loan yetMy credit union only services Oregon/Washington, so I can’t use them for a loanI’m unsure about the process of buying an investment property from out of state, as a first time home buyer, especially since I don’t plan to live in the property myselfWhat I’d like to know:Does this seem like a solid investment opportunity?

Hi Eva, I am in San Jose, but I probably spend half of my time helping clients in the Oakland area, as well as I was born and raised in the East Bay.If you go to meetup.com you can look up the events that are already in your area.Here are a couple:THE BARSTOOL INVESTORThe David Greene Team NorCal - Real Estate Networking Event, Wednesday, March 15 · 6–8 PM - Calicraft Brewing | Outdoor Patio Tables 2700 Mitchell Dr, Walnut Creek, CA 94598Hope this helps. 

I could see the damage this was beginning to cause, so we discussed it with the tenants, and agreed on a solution, which was they did not have to take it down, we scheduled a day to return, and wrapped/attached a single piece of thick soft plastic around the rack so that splashed water just runs back into the sink.

For example, a garage, a large lot, a covered patio on foundation, etc.