Market rent is about $2,200 right now, and could go as high as $3,000 if I added some sparkle (or an additional bedroom).My wife and I wants to buy it from him, but we're trying to figure out the best way to do it to reduce taxes (property / assessment, income, excise) and puts us all in a better financial situation (short-term and long-term).If they were to sell it on the open market for $300k, they'd incur 10% selling costs (closing costs, realtor commissions, excise tax) of $30k and get $270k in cash before taxes. 

I'd be happy to come over and show you my tricks for getting the light fixtures sparkling again.

The US side had gone the quick cash industrial route many many years ago and now pays the price, the Canadians took the slow growth tourism way and are a real sparkling gem.

If it came down to emotions over numbers my daughter would be my designer and all my hones would be pretty pink with sparkles....

So far, everyone of those items makes it rent faster rent, makes the tenants appreciate the nice home, attracts higher quality people for those neighborhoods (nicest house on the block mentality), and all those things help to deter maintenance (unlike fixing linoleum and cleaning carpet). i think that's why I don't have much trouble renting out my units very quickly.Seriously, those little details make the house look brand new (sparkling shiny new appliances, esp).

Maybe it’s a little less sparkly but most of the sparkle comes from multidirectional lighting like they have in jewelry cases.

It sets unrealistic expectations that you can execute it as a newbie from anywhere with not much cash, and because I’m honest about that I see a lot of investors go to other agents to buy houses that when I see what they bought I know it doesn’t work (see their posts on FB forums usually asking for advice because they are having problems with the $30,000 house they bought in a bad area and their property manager/contractor/etc won’t give champagne service for sparkling water prices). 

As per Al mentioned I had already been taking extra care of the property by changing garbage companies so we had twice a week pick up to keep the yard clean and the property sparkling all the time. 3) flood lights placed on the house to keep it well lit all night long.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a contractor that could sparkle some wall corners and do touch up paint?

This unit was sparkling, with brand new appliances and professionally cleaned when they moved in.