My apartments are 30 years old.I have a maintenance guy do unit checks every 2 weeks.Basically checks water heater,heater,outside unit,light bulbs,ceiling fans,electric,plumbing,etc.We have water included in rent so stuff like replacing springs and o rings in the showers to prevent drips and replacing flappers in toilets to keep the water from running all the time.Sometimes the shutoff valve at the wall for the toilet doesn't close all the way to off or the float mechanism goes bad.You can buy a water pressure tester at Lowe's for 9 dollars.Just screw it on check for pressure.Should read 60 to 80 pounds.If it's higher than that you have to find the pressure regulator valve next to the water cutoff for the unit and adjust it.After adjusting if the pressure doesn't go down to 60 to 80 you have a bad pressure regulator that needs replacing.The importance of this is pressure is set for the cities and counties at around 160 for the fire hydrants.If pressure is high inside the apartments it can cause leaking and premature failure of plumbing parts.On the insurance we are required for replacement value and can't do market value.

Some idiot left a (ball check) in place fully inflated on the 3" line.No wonder water form the tubs wasn't draining.Apparently there was work done to the kitchen 7 to 8 years ago before I bought it a few months ago.The plumber says the ball check is to check holding water and pressure test and then is supposed to be taken off and a regular line used or just remove the ball and cap the pipe.Instead he said many times dry wallers just goes over it before the plumber comes back and the plumber says screw it and leaves it.I just couldn't believe it but the plumber has found this before on other properties he has worked on.

Boy, was she asking a lot and put too much pressure on me to save her in a situation that she got herself in. 

The areas that experienced the largest property value drops (and thus have the greatest deals now) are the areas where the local banks have been burned the worst, and these banks are under pressure from their regulators and their own Boards, and have either completely withdrawn from investment property lending, or are severely limiting it.You would also be well-served to cultivate some private lenders, and disintermediate the banks out of the picture, as they're just a PITA.

Water heater installed 1987 with no temperature/pressure relief valve and drain line.6.

We have found that putting an eyelet for the discharge hose into the drain line keeps the discharge hose from coming halfway out the drain line from the pressure and prevents leaks.If your washer is on the upper floors and not ground level it is a good idea to have a drain pan or a drain in the floor that is tied into the drain pipe for the discharge hose.Some tenants have older washers and when they go out the water is known to go everywhere.

Also, do most rehabbers pressure wash the concrete or steam clean it?

There is a lot of pressure from regulators now to keep high loan loss recerves.

If wood gives away with slight pressure, its hollow.Like said watch a pro a few times,,,if buying hire one, if found they are expensive to treat and seller usually does pay thru the nose.

You will have to dig to see where the property is at in the process.When I worked for developers we would keep things tightly under wraps so people didn't have much time to mount opposition to the plan.The zoning attorney also tries to picks times where most of the public won't show up.Even if you can't get the level of stories or use changed you could argue the developers finishes need to be higher grade and style.That alone might push them to another location because of cost.Once the project is altered to a certain point where the developer can't build density or has to make too many improvements to the roads,traffic lights,high end finishes to the build etc. the project becomes dead.Apartments right now are hot.Many plans call for more town homes but it is not profitable for many developers to build that in this environment.