@Larry Fried: I want to put into properties rent ready. 

You can see the gray plastic of the new drain above. 

Plastic or rubber runner, covering almost the whole step.

In some areas, code enforcement has bigger fish to fry than an existing unpermitted addition, as long as it is not obviously a zoning violation, there are no life safety issues, and the neighbors haven't complained.  

I work mon-fri so I really made the most out of my weekends.  

It arrived in a plastic bag with apologies from the USPS.

I think I went from the frying pan to the fire!

@Larry Fried I'll most likely be looking for turnkey properties at first.

The Illinois Real Estate Investors Association is having their Vendor Fair and Fish Fry tomorrow night!

I drove a $1500 car to/from work for several years with no maintenance except for oil changes.  40K miles on it before the water pump blew and the engine fried.