Beautiful it was...and also build on an old deck with 4X4s pounded into the ground as the footing, no foundation at all. 

He's disturbing the neighbors at night and when I asked him to please stop, he became much worse and actually pounded holes in the wall, I told him I was going to start the eviction process and he began screaming at  me and ended up busting out a basement window the following day. 

And buying directly from a distressed seller, tired landlord, or unwanted inheritance.

However, potable units are not as user friendly and accidents with it can flood the kitchen.As to your wife, sound like my mother in law who owns rentals, penny wise, pound foolish, costing more in the long run.

A stepladder might help, and remember that if you have a 5-gallon bucket, it will weigh about 40 pounds when full of water. 

Penny wise, pound foolish.  

Here are some random thoughts you might consider.1) Has the tenant left and just left their unwanted stuff behind?

There is also a river that borders the town.  30 pound catfish are common. 

Just keep pounding them out... most will work.  

Being under insured is usually penny wise pound foolish.