When we create our business plan, we also include our exit plan.We'll only proceed if we can clean this up, acquire new tenants at higher rents so we can increase our NOI, which in turn should reflect our cap rate and profits.Since this asset class is new to us we will tread cautiously.Scheduled to preview tomorrow. 

Requires some pre-planning if the ceiling height exists. 

I'm an engineering student planning to start a business after graduation.

@Greg StrunakA good real estate accountant can save you thousands of dollars by leveraging entity selection and formation, tax deductions, cost segregations, bonus depreciation and tax planning.I recommend finding an accountant who specializes in real estate taxation, business taxation, financial planning and tax planning.You may want to consider working with your accountant remotely to expand your options.I would also recommend looking for a accountant willing to work with you throughout the year.

Focus on what the rents will look like post-renovation with 4 units instead of 2, and have a clear game plan for refinancing to pull your capital back out. 

But as often happens, a certain percentage of my investments “go off the rails”, in other words don’t proceed as planned.  

Unlikely.The backup plan is to have a strong lease.

It's in a rural town so I'm also worried that demand might not be as high as in more densely populated areas.I'm planning to call local banks this week to understand financing options and contact some contractors who might be interested in building additional units. 

Below are some actionable steps I plan to take after identifying a market:- find a rock star agent by referral and/or calling brokerages and asking to connect with their top producing agents- find a rock star contractor by referral and/or yelp- have control over construction by setting per diems to incentivize contractor to finish the project on time, within budget, and with good quality- leverage my rock star agent's time to check up on the construction process (checks and balances)- hire independent handymen/inspectors to check up on the construction process for a flat fee (checks and balances) There's competition everywhere, you won't escape that in any market. 

I plan to invest into smaller multi-family 2-5 unit turnkey properties.