But I've found Craigslist and Habitat ReStore to be excellent sources to get nice stuff for cheap.

.$1500 for a 3 bedroom rental to students: get a $250 used oven from ReStore or someplace like that.

She had put good money into restoring the property, but no longer wanted to stay without her husband, and the realtors she really wanted didn't want to get involved so they pawned it off to me (and I had no book of business at the time so of course I agreed to at least meet), and the house was going to list for well over $1 Million. 

You can also have them agree, that when they move out, to restore any tub cuts that you make to accomodate their requests.

SInce the Bank filed a Recision Deed "restoring MARY to sole ownership as before the foreclosure" this wiped out the any transfer to JOHN & MARY.

The owner can require the property to be restored to its original condition after move-out.Be careful in your screening process to not do or say something that could be considered discrimination against a protected class.

We are looking at an old Victorian that has been hacked into 4 apartment units, but we would want to restore it into a SFH.  

You always need utilities for cleaning between tenants.Typically, utilities charge a much higher fee to restore service after a shutoff than they do to switch service from a tenant's name to yours, which may be free, and then from your name to the new tenant's name.One further thing I've done: The gas utility charges $19 to switch service from the old tenant to my account and another $19 to switch to the new tenant.

These homes are like vintage automobiles, you restore them to their original state to multiple their value. 

@Daniel Holbrook, is there anything like a Habitat for Humanity Restore in the area?