We had aluminum wiring which was a royal pain.

Just a peek at the backyard after replacing the awful aluminum sliding door with a french door and creating a romantic place to eat alfresco.Still a work in progress, but starting to feel like a sweet little cottage on the park. 

Anyone have recommendations for a GC in the New Bedford area that specialize in Fire Damage- have a 4-family building with significant fire/ water damage that I'm looking to purchase and rehab but can't seem to find a...

But yesterday, after watching BP show 399, where Jeff told about painting aluminum (the one we have) siding instead of replacing for vinyl, we started to question our decision. 

Southeastern US continues to be our target!

My biggest concerns would be out of date electrical wiring that needs updating (knob and tube or aluminum wire).  

If you see old aluminum windows from the 70's you probably have baths and kitchens from the 70's.

In my area, they are about $1,500-$3,000 to replace, so not the end of the world.I even know a flipper that focuses on older neighborhoods (20's-30's) and he is very used to rewiring entire houses because of aluminum wiring. 

In our experience you will need to:1) Learn to "Maintain to the Neighborhood", not your personal standards2) Tenant-Proof everything you canHard surface flooring, not carpeting (too easy to trash)Same basic paint for everythingNo garbage disposals for them to breakOnly spring-type doorstops also with plate on the wallGlue rubber mats under sinks to prevent water damageSheet aluminum on walls around stovetops, for easy grease removalTowel racks - screw 1x3 to wall studs, then screw rack to thatInstall low-profile downspout ext, not aluminum that always disappearPlan on cleaning gutters and leaves up in the fall as tenants won'tAvoid garage door openers3) Have a great application screening process:Check credit for evictions & convictions, utility collectionsFocus on employment/income stabilityRequire bank or debit card statement - you'll be surprised what they spend their money on!

Prior to buying my inspector pointed out that there was aluminum wiring through out the house and recommended pigtailing the aluminum wiring at the outlets with copper.