We were helping a friend renovate a house which had been home to a heavy smoker: one room was so bad - owner had smoked in the same chair for 30 years - that we had to replace the sheet rock on the walls and ceiling.There have been some studies in the past few years showing that the chemicals from cigarette smoke, even when encapsulated with paint, eventually come to the surface exposing future residents, in particular young children.  

If it were free and easy, everyone would be doing it and the competition would keep you from participating.If you aren't willing to invest some money, time, and effort into the hard things, you aren't going to reap the rewards.

We recently found a competitive Broker that has helped a lot of them cut overhead.

Your price point of $1,100 puts you below nearly all of the competition mitigating that.The Philly L&I department has a terrible reputation.

Yes, you can get rid of cat urine it just takes elbow grease, heavy cleaning, and possibly new flooring in select rooms.

I put a post on the Classifieds looking for wholesalers in my area as 99.9% of properties on the MLS are priced to high and the ones that are affordable have intense competition.

I get to work with a lot of heavy equipment and power tools in my current job. 

Quick thoughts on the markets you're considering:Knoxville, TN: Growing, affordable, and a strong university presence.Huntsville/Montgomery/Tuscaloosa, AL: Huntsville's got tech, while Montgomery and Tuscaloosa have colleges.Asheville, NC: Popular tourist spot, but competitive and pricey.Akron, OH: Affordable, but keep an eye on the local economy.Irving, TX: Part of DFW, so a big market, but prices are higher.St.

Professionals with decades of experience and proven track records do all the heavy lifting.

Additionally, the rental market in Seattle can be competitive, with seasonal fluctuations affecting short-term rental demand.