I shudder to think if I were asleep and suddenly woke up with the need to use the bathroom toilet how I could negotiate two flights of stairs without leaving a trail! 

We've been in the house 6 years, and we've done a good amount of remodeling- drain tile in backyard, fenced in backyard, new high efficiency furnace, remodeled bathroom and kitchen.

I get depreciation, principal pay down, positive cash flow of usually about $500 or more per month per property, and the Tenant Buyer maintains the property (so, no toilets to worry about ;-).

To get a feel for the area we first did a remodel on a manufactured home.

If a 1250 sqft home needs to be completely remodeled (not including foundation work).

I bought my first home in the Bay Area (Sunnyvale) three years ago on a jumbo loan with 20% down and put everything I had into a remodel done partly by me and partly with subs.

Complete bathroom remodel with tile standup shower in master, new appliances, new back deck, refinish hardwood floors, paint.

I actually still have to complete an official walk-through with a contractor and based the estimates on a complete remodel being done - as there is foundation damage and the roof has not been done since the house was purchased in 30yrs ago.

Kitchen needed a full remodel.

Leaning that some guests feel entitled to taking random items such as rolls of paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning supplies upon departure with the notion that the unused items are complimentary since they paid for their stay.