@Billy GullettI recommend that you make the place functional / stylish / comparable to other rentals in the area on as small of a budget as possible.

I am not aware of any free services but my phone provider is cheap and has this functionality if you are somewhat tech savvy. 

Refinished hardwoods, new tile in kitchen and bath, old cabinets, older functioning HVAC, insulated.

this is still not functional :(

The idea is to build a 2 car detached garage and rearrange the floor plan to create a more functional home.

To me its just a function of the overall socal market - no rent control, proximity to lax jobs, etc.

Any ideas on a good way to make this function properly? 

If I had to make a bullish argument for inflation adjusted home prices rising it would be due to capital flows rotating out of cash to avoid paying interest on deposits or just chasing yield because negative interest rates pulling down returns even lower.  

Like every day I am rotating listings, taking calls/texts/emails, making showing appointments.  

Everything "looks" nice but internally just doesn't function properly.