., @Bruce Woodruff, and especially @Jill F..The only three things I'd like to emphasize are:(1) Linda's understanding that you have to know what kind of rental you're aiming for before you start redesigning a kitchen and planning on shelling out the big bucks.(2) Jill's rock-solid description of the process of getting this done.(3) As Scott said, if this is a C-class apartment, light that kitchen up like a surgery, and understand that less is probably going to be more here before you open up your wallet.Only one thing I'd like to expand on:The cheapest cabinets are made out of particle board, it's heavy, it warps and swells when exposed to moisture very easily, but it's cheap.

No one thought about the damage the moisture in the place would have done.

Around a month ago our tenants started complaining about it being hot inside the home with condensation and potential moisture problems.

Is there a simple way I can cover the chimney up so rain/moisture doesn't get in but also allow proper ventilation?

If it's moisture creeping in from the ground, consider adding a dehumidifier or figuring out how to seal the basement.

Also, people with sufficient funds will leave these areas and the area will go into decline.Climate - Properties in areas with hard freezes and excessive moisture will tend to require more maintenance than in milder and dryer climates.Age of the property - The older the property, the more maintenance it will require, unless all the major systems and components have been updated recently.Property cost - There is a tendency for new investors to choose locations with very inexpensive properties.

Would we need to do a test inside the wall to look for moisture? 

What pattern are you using, does underlayment need to be put down, do I need a moisture barrier etc. 

The property needs some foundation/moisture mitigation work, a trash out, and a full rehab.

The Andersen rep also was making me think twice about the Pella windows by saying moisture gets inside of them and the wood rots from the inside out.