The city of Chicago has made a huge push to get rid of any lead service lines, so it's no surprise you have to mess with that.   

That’s okay, just accept the risk of a “surprise”. 

It’s smart to review the HOA guidelines before buying so there aren’t any surprises.

Quote from @Andrew Street: Hi Nick - If you’re looking for a property manager or cleaner, start by asking around in local Facebook groups or on Nextdoor—you’d be surprised how many recommendations you can get.

Oh, the surprises that await you. ;-) 

EDUCATE YOURSELF - yes, it will take time, but will lead to a selection that better meets your expectations & avoids potentially costly surprises!

@Kristie McCleary You may be surprised. 

I have had luck with doing direct mail marketing for some of my past clients that wanted a certain area or neighborhood, you'd be surprised at how many sellers don't want to deal with showings and everything else that goes into listing a home. 

It’s also always a good idea to be a little conservative with your timeline and rental income estimates since delays and surprises happen.

They accepted the offer even to the surprise of the listing agent.