I live in an area where tons of houses end up with roots in their underground pipes.One pipe has had recurring problems and Roto Rooter is suggesting installation of an outdoor clean-out (since the house's current one is small and insufficient).It involves excavation and the RR guy says that, unfortunately, he's not 100% sure whether the problem pipe is inside the house's footing (under the house) or outside the footing (and accessible with an excavator).

At this point, I know that it has been rehabbed to the extent of indoor/ outdoor paint and refinished hardwood floors (not much, I know).

We told them when they moved in that we would be doing that after the outdoor projects were complete- which they are).

No worries I am the same way in that I would want my rentals to be nice enough for me to live in but at end of day its still a business and sometimes I have to tell myself that.For example last weekend while I was at HomeDepot they had a sale in sensor lighting for outdoor.

I'd consider getting rid of or restricting outdoor faucets.

A friend had been hyping me up to do this adult obstacle course with him for weeks . . . it was going to be one of those cool outdoor places where you're climbing, crawling through the mud and so on.

Started a post on this today:http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/87/topics/92730-app-that-tracks-outdoor-marketing-bandit-signsfinallyNo more guesswork involved with putting up signs...it's all documented in realtime online with this tool (time, location, and an actual picture of the sign).

When I moved in and started using the house, I noticed there weren't water lines hooked up to the outdoor spigot or to the dishwasher.  

.- Issues effecting resale value: double yellow lines, numbered state roads, proximity to train tracks, highways, airports, gun clubs with outdoor ranges, flood zones, school zones, business / industrial noise or odor issues, high crime area, crappy neighbors (barking dogs left outside, trash in the yard, house in disrepair) close to a hospital, police or fire station (sirens all night).So what we're looking for is properties where the numbers make sense, with no issues that will slow down the sale when the rehab is completed.  

Since the six lots are near interstate highway, another idea is for outdoor advertising.