The home is a bilevel and the first floor has a near perfect cement floor.

When the windy season (or rain, if we get any in a given year) arrives in autumn, I take it down; the tarp generally lasts 2-3 years before needing replacement.Anyway, I'd like to replace that with a robust permanent structure, which I'm envisioning as being a similar structure as the tarp thing; two corners attached to 2x4s in the eaves, the other two out in the yard attached to a 2x4 or 4x4 set of wood posts, fastened securely to the cement surface in the yard. 

The following is some side information I want to share so if you have enough info please skip to the link.Back then it had a hole in the roof and holes drywall in a couple of units, which has been recently fixed.Other issues include: outdated kitchen(all 4 units), missing carpet in living room areas, rotted doors, needs repainted stucco on exterior walls and new paint interior as well, updated ceiling fans, and ceiling paint, updated Water heater and HVAC, replaced glass windows, repair door frames, overrun landscaping and trash, broken cement drivewayUnknown information: water/plumbing issues, electrical issues as it was winterized when I looked inside the home.Upgrades I want to add include: Security lighting/system,up-to-date kitchen, update fireplace molding, paint parking areas,update all entryway door and closets, carpets to laminate flooring, examine windows and doors for gaps to reduce heat loss, if need be examine plumbing electrical and heating ducts.Analysis:Quad plex in same neighborhood with same stucco construction and year  sold 4 months prior for 232K w/ no new updates just clean livable conditions. 2 Quadplexes that are brick construction and older  models but have been updated to 2015 and currently pending contracts for 315K.What numbers am i missing.

The subflooring is cement. 

Like what if some hoodlum poured cement down your sewer line? 

LolThey were supposed to add ventilation to the crawl space, grade the front yard, remove an old brick post and cement slab, add flashings to the roof, and more but he didn’t do any of it (we were supposed to close Monday- he’s had over a month and has gone out of town). 

We had just enough money for the down payment, borrowed some of it, no cash reserves, ran into broken pipes, tree roots in the sewer line, tore out cement ourselves to get to the pipes, had police called, us called, fights, drugs, sleepless nights all in the first year.

Siding Replacement (Fiber Cement) – average costs are $13,212 and the return on investment is 88.1% Deck Addition (Wood) – average costs are $10,347 and the return on investment is 85.4% Siding Replacement (Vinyl) – average costs are $9,910 and the return on investment is 83.2% Minor Kitchen Remodel – average costs are $21,185 and the return on investment is 83% Siding Replacement (Foam Backed Vinyl) – average costs are $12, 132 and the return on investment is 79.7% Windows (Vinyl) – average costs are $10,448 and the return on investment is 79.3% Windows (Wood) – average costs are $11,384 and the return on investment is 79.3% Bathroom Remodel – average costs are $15,789 and the return on investment is 78.3% Major Kitchen Remodel – average costs are $55,503 and the return on investment is 78.1% Deck Addition (Composite) – average costs are $15,039 and the return on investment is 77.6%Read more at Suite101: Home Improvements with Best Return on Looks like a lotta emphasis on outdoor curb appeal!

He paid to have several old trees taken down, installed a huge chain link fence for his dog, added a cement poured 20x30 patio.

once your floor is level its time to begin. your very first course of tile is very important/I did not really understand all the books methodology of measuring and finding the square etc. what I did is laid one or two courses without thinset but with spacers.once I was confident that these were straight I laid the next tile next to them. point to note when laying the first cemented row of tile next to the trial run be sure not to push the the trial row out of position or you will end up being crooked. tip four get the right consistecy do not mix too much at once. for a beginner perhaps 1/4 of a bag then try 1/2 bag.