For tips on writing well, a good resource to start with is The Elements of Style by Strunk and White.

Then join a local REI group and begin using this formula to overcome your fear of the unknown....Definite Goal/Plans + Faith + Emotion + Action  = All Human AccomplishmentFaith = Knowing you can accomplish your goal / Self ConfidenceEmotion = Feeling you can accomplish your goal / objectiveIf you feel that you are deficient in any element, focus on working on that until you feel you're ready to take action.I wish you the best.

Im sensitive to her situation but also leery about a winter vacancy complete with heating bills to pay.

Also, always change your unit's HVAC filters or you be going through heat exchangers, evaporator coils, and compressors more often.  

Speaking of electrical, I had about 6 service calls on a rental about the electric heat and AC ... they messed with the unit all kinds of ways but never fixed it.

definitely agree with what the folks have said that market has heated up which has made finding great deals harder to find in the South side of Chicago but they are there!

( sewer line replacement , heating system failure, etc )  you need to have funds available before problems happen 

No property tax issues with common elements, no complex hazard insurance policy to deal with, no common area maintenance issues to deal with.  

@Evan Ventura,People here on BP have also successfully used the cheap IKEA countertops (around $75-99 for a piece). at that price they where treated as expendables (one per tenant), and some even reported getting the install time with demo at 2-4 hours.for the other, you need to "waterproof" the common points of water entry:-caulk between the wall and countertop-use varnish on points contacting sink-use good glue near the oven/range since the usual pressure-activated glue does not fare well with heat

I need to put in new flooring, heating system, bathrooms, kitchen, replaster walls etc.