Our initial plan for the next couple of years is to get rents to market, and see what we can do with the water and heating bills.Over the next few years, we will build out our buy and hold portfolio in the Toledo area.

I'm not risking bringing someone else's parasites, pet dander (or worse), odors, or bodily fluids into my nice vacation rental.

I stress that regularly changing these will help greatly with heating and cooling costs.More often than not there's still 11 in the box when they move out.For many tenants the only way to make certain these will be changed out regularly is if I go over and do this myself.Gail

The unit I am living in is a 1 BR/1 BA on the second floor of the building...the door to the attic is right outside my entrance and goes up to a big open area that USED to be 2 additional bedrooms, however, it has been vacant for years as there was a fire in the 80's.My handyman took a look and agreed that he could definitely add the 2 bedrooms, no problems...I know egress windows will be a major factor and I am also looking into the heating and electric to make sure it is linked to my unit's heater/panel.What else should I be looking/planning for?

If I was a tenant I will not want my babies near a electric heated furnace.

It’s funny you ask one of the houses I am looking at is on a slab with all electric heat.

I prefer natural gas heat .

I go to Trulia for a lot of the same stuff, but also the crime heat maps. 

All items are to be addressed prior to closing with follow up city inspection.The property needs about $60k in repairs or replacements of items such as driveway, windows, heating units, side walk etc based on inspections and estimates.

All items are to be addressed prior to closing with follow up city inspection.The property needs about $60k in repairs or replacements of items such as driveway, windows, heating units, side walk etc based on inspections and estimates.