I was racking my brain and trying to get others on board for funding.

There aren't any other visible cracks or bad spots, but the previous owners rigged up a wooden brace to hold down a catch basin lid in the basement...

In this time, I racked up a lot of debt which I was not able to pay off.

Wooden flooring- Heard Vinyl is better option?

I'll admit my nerves have been racked some with the rehab, but it looks like it turned out well.  

We bought a staple gun from Home Depot and a bundle of wooden posts (they sell them for $10 or so a bundle) and made ours that way.  

Being a successful small business owner taught me many valuable skills and gave me a great sense of accomplishment, but with the decline of "traditional playthings" and the rise of electronics as children's entertainment, (do you know a young child that DOESN'T play with a 'screen device' more than wooden blocks?)

I've heard Kilz oil-based is used for pet odors but isn't it usually for wooden floors?  

We are getting a 2 story property ready to rent. Previously the stairs were carpeted. We removed old carpet and found fairly decent hardwood. I think hardwood stairs are beautiful and carpet gets stained easily. My hu...

This sounds like a potentially nerve racking tenant in the future.