Clear as mud? 

I think it all boils down to what is the potential for my view disappearing or something undesirable being built behind me.

That's just too much undue risk for me, especially if you're doing that in the more undesirable locations in the nation.

Good candidates for an extra room:A large storage area added to the sq ft of the house attached to laundry roomAn unused den with sufficient spaceA bonus room with no door A large playroom An unused family or living room An unfinished attic An unfinished basement A large mud room An unused California room (indoor/outdoor room)An unused Florida room (aka Sunroom)The third car space in a 3 car garage Adding rooms when it makes sense is a powerful way to increase value Exterior Room Additions:You can increase square footageYou can cure whatever is preventing property from reaching max potential Make sure you go through the permit process and have the county add the square footage to the size of the house so it comes up in public records.

I’d rather have them clean it than have mud, grass clippings or whatever accumulate.

If a property is in a poor neighborhood and miles from buses or trains and a grocery store I believe it to be undesirable for a lot of tenants and will greatly reduce the number of potental tenants.

Stay out of Austin-Very little if anything will cash flow close to the cityLook in outlying areas including Jonestown, Lago, Taylor, HuttoStay away from HOA's, MUDS and high tax areas if possibleOff 1431 is a good area as well as 2243Shenandoah/Riviera are good areas but pricey unless you can find a deal

Thank you for chiming in give us an education based facts.Looks that there is going to be some mud in the water most likely or the property would of already been sold conventionally. 

You may also be in undesirable parts of town.

I'm planning to use carpet tiles in a small mud room entryway to replace old laminate flooring.