But urban land well situated in the path of progress can have some pretty stunning upside with a 5 to 20 plus year hold. 

The refrigerator could not fit underneath the cupboards on the right at the purchase, so the refrigerator was in the attached dining room table area, leaving no place for a dining room table.

One thing you should know about Elk Grove is the lack of good dining options.

The main house has a: living room, dining room, family room, kitchen, that I felt was a crazy amount of space for them.

Better schools,  access to the lake and rivers, lower crime, better dining options, etc.   

.,          I typically go with a "light staging" option by renting a living room, dining room and master bedroom set from a furniture rental place.

Elongate the garage, add a pantry, and make the dining room bigger, since making the dining room bigger meant messing with the deck and zoning, we told her we can’t do it, anything that has to go through zoning we wont do.

Buy something you can easily sublease the rooms with living, dining, basement as common areas with coin operated laundry...

I'm picturing offering a single space that is conference/dining area, couches/living area.

Main floor -- 1 bathroom (shower, no bathtub), 1 bedroom, VERY LARGE living room, as well as an additional small living room, dining room, mudroom and kitchen.2nd Floor -- 1 bathroom (with bathtub), 7 bedrooms, no living area or any other area on the 2nd floor.