At the time, I was very green to hiring contractors, and the entire electrical wire was done without permits.

STRs can benefit from engineered cost segregation studies but it can be a case by case basis.

But engineer, actuary, economist, etc then probably worth going to college but not a requirement. good luck

.🏭 Industrial Asset Examples:Heavy & General Industrial FacilitiesManufacturing plants with production lines, cranes, and heavy power requirementsDistribution hubs serving regional or national supply chainsCold storage or food-grade industrial facilitiesIndustrial campuses with multiple buildings and shared infrastructureRail-served or port-adjacent industrial propertiesValue Creation Examples:Reconfiguring floor layouts for production efficiencyPower upgrades (3-phase, heavy amperage)Dock door additions or conversionsYard expansion and truck circulation improvements🏗 Flex Property Examples:Hybrid Office / Industrial AssetsFlex parks with front-office showroom and rear warehouse spaceTech-enabled flex buildings for R&D or engineering firmsContractor flex spaces (plumbing, HVAC, electrical firms)Medical or lab-adjacent flex facilities:Business parks with divisible flex suitesValue Creation Examples:Converting excess office to warehouse or vice versaImproving curb appeal for higher-quality tenantsRepositioning flex from owner-user to investment productUpgrading loading access or clear heights⚙️ Light Manufacturing Examples:Low-Impact Manufacturing & AssemblyAssembly plants (electronics, medical devices, packaging)Food processing or bottling facilitiesPrinting, plastics, or fabrication shopsApparel or product assembly centersSmall-batch production facilitiesValue Creation Examples:Layout optimization for workflow efficiencyUtility coordination (gas, water, compressed air)Compliance upgrades (ADA, OSHA, food-grade finishes)Expansion planning for future growth🚚 Warehouse & Distribution Examples:Storage & Logistics FacilitiesLast-mile delivery warehousesRegional distribution centersE-commerce fulfillment facilitiesBulk storage and racked warehousesMulti-tenant warehouse parksValue Creation Examples:Dock-high vs grade-level conversionsClear height increases or racking optimizationTruck court and trailer storage improvementsLighting, flooring, and fire suppression upgrades🏢 Business Center / Multi-Tenant Industrial Examples:Small-bay industrial parksContractor and service-oriented industrial centersMixed flex-industrial business campusesOwner-user industrial condo developmentsValue Creation Examples:Tenant mix optimizationOperating expense reduction through vendor renegotiationCapital improvement planning tied to lease renewalsRepositioning older assets to modern industrial standards

For example, a study may conclude that 15 percent of a building’s electrical system directly supports § 1245 property, such as specialized kitchen equipment.

A good cost segregation study is engineering-based, the IRS' preferred methodology.

The project was supposed to take 2-4 weeks, but 4 weeks later and he has done some electrical and plumbing and a wall removal all without permits and most of my townhouse is still down to studs.

Automation, robotics, cold storage, and 24/7 logistics all require large and reliable electrical capacity.

I’ve identified when I want to buy and am now focused on reverse-engineering the steps needed to execute confidently and efficiently.What I’ve done so far:-Saved for down payment and closing costs-Actively building cash reserves-Funds parked in a HYSA to season-Drafted crystal-clear buy criteria (to be finalized once buying power is confirmed)-Focused heavily on education:-Various REI podcasts-The Multifamily Millionaire Vol. 1-The Book on Rental Property Investing-Rich Dad Poor DadNext up: The Book on Managing Rental Properties and 90 Days to Your First Investment-Recently became a BiggerPockets Pro member-Planning to join my local REIA nextNext steps I’m planning:-After the holidays, get pre-qualified with a local lender-Use that to establish a ballpark understanding of buying power-At the appropriate time, complete the pre-approval process (understanding the 90-day window)-Build out my team (agent and vendors) so I’m ready to move decisively once I begin making offersWhere I’d love advice from the community:Pre-qualification vs. pre-approval-For an FHA house hack targeting a June–July purchase, is getting pre-qualified early enough for meaningful planning, or should certain steps wait until I’m within 90 days and pre-approved?

Detailed Engineering Approach from Actual Cost Records2.