Let them know you’re hungry to learn, can help with anything (calls, research, showings, cold outreach, social media, whatever), and that you’re not expecting pay—just the chance to be in the room and soak it all in.Go to local meetups, real estate investment groups, and networking events (check out Meetup.com, BiggerPockets, Facebook groups, even your city’s REIA).

They have a do it yourself business model. 

You haven't indicated whether you self manage or have a manager, but you are going to want to research this and know it well if you are going to use future bookings in your negotiations (I don't recommend using it in advertising, consider it a disclosure).

If you think you can handle it yourself, watch the movie Pacific Heights.

My questions would be if you would be permitted to do the work and legally get the credit for it to be called a garage after you were done. 

Usually when I hear about people doing cost segregation, it's on larger properties.

When I read the NOI is $x but it should be Y I chuckle - they want me to buy a property at what it could be but do the work to get it there - no thank you.

I want it to be a safe home for her and so I would like to upkeep it to the best of my ability but still being cognizant that it's not a rental yet.

@Shannon VistisenI would definitely purchase it and do it yourself. 

How do we change this?