I will discuss layout strategiespacing yourselfand tricks I picked up along the wayI am not long on time today but please expect the thread to be expanded over the next 7 daysI will add to it as I go further into the project. 

Hire them to do a feasablity study  usually 3 to 5k.. and then if it looks good you can start down the path they lay out for you.Any specific information on BP will just be ramdom hearsay you need to talk to the people in charge of the area.. each municipality or county is different one size does not fit all.

Kind of counter intuitive, or not?

I would immediately set up a meeting (offer lunch) to introduce myself and lay out my intentions for the unit and describe a responsible, respectful and benefit to the neighborhood- type of tenant I am looking for in the unit and my hopes that they are that type.

Updated and changing the layout of the kitchen.

However the layout work for me and I don't want the tenant moving them around too much.

In that sense, a recent bankruptcy is actually better than an older one.Just mentioning that because it is counter-intuitive to many landlords.

They heard my husband and I talking about ideas to open up walls, change layout, add walk-in-closet, etc.

That's a $210k gains in equity compared to $110k gain had you exchanged into it at $300k.It sounds counter intuitive, but most people do the opposite.

The neighbors mentioned they were occasionally spraying the outside steps as the bugs were just spilling out.I'm the kind of newbie investor that gets really excited about the potential for a property - I literally spent hours at a time in my first rental planning out the rehab and envisioning what I was going to do to the property to make it look great - exposing brick, reconfiguring upstairs layout, enhancing outdoor space, etc.