You can make money but it is not easy to do so, and emotionally draining.

@Bruce Woodruff I agree but I got a quote for over $10,000 to put a footer drain in where an internal sump system is $5000.

This implies if the LL takes one month to place a tenant and a couple hundred dollars doing the always tenant turnover items (for example we always change lock cylinders, shampoo carpets, chemically treat the drains, deoderize/disinfect including use of ozoner). 

We are placing a bathroom in the basement and had the main line scoped to make sure it was deep enough to pitch our drains back to it.

Sometimes it’s in the backyard, not just down the drains.

I have no workers handy, but I go buy a new gas water heater, drain the old one as much as I can. 

Plus they did not pour cat litter down the toilt drain, which is always nice.My experience is that the 5 day Notice loses it's teeth after they found out it did not bite the first time.

Our insurance company wanted us to replace both water heaters before insuring our home but ultimately okayed it based on that they both had drains and we already had a warranty transferring on the home.

I think George W nailed it, that sounds exactly like the stink of a draining house trap.

If I save up 6 months of expenses plus big ticket items and then drain it on a down payment for the next one, we’ll i just shot myself in the foot.