Are there any common areas or outside landscaping you can do to add value before you talk to the tenant?

Nick,If you are going to be in Wyoming for awhile, what I would recommend is buying a 2-4 unit place you can live in while you are recruiting with your VA loan, put some sweat equity in it with new paint, landscaping, etc and either sell when you PCS to Savannah.

If you are just slapping lipstick on a pig then the deal would have already been scooped up which is why my light rehab changes the vanities, paint, landscape, appliances. 

I have a family member who I currently employ, who is available to do landscaping and housekeeping on a daily basis, if need be.As I will be out of state, I would need to have a management company find tenants and manage it. 1.

The remodel was just under $90,000 and was top to bottom remodel of both units: new kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, some windows needed to be replaced, plumbing was updated, landscaping, and more.

I have tenants that are landscapers (total of about 10 of my tenants), handymen, truck drivers, tow truck driver, install flooring (2), etc. 

The last expensive turn I had (tenant left it a huge mess and smoked inside etc), I used a painter, a landscaper, a plumber, a cabinet counter refinisher, cleaners. 

Look around on BP and you'll find that MFR buyers will have their own formulas for set-asides.Typical costs are vacancy, advertising, CAPEX, landscaping, trash, any shared utilities, water & sewer, CAM, HOA fees.Look at the BP Calculator too: https://www.biggerpockets.com/buy-and-hold-calcula...

@John Cassel I would also do some minor landscaping, usually cheap to do and can make a property look amazing.

Rehabbed landscape.