Typical renovations include:Cosmetic Updates: Painting, flooring, kitchen and bathroom upgrades, and landscaping.Structural Repairs: Fixing any underlying issues such as foundation repairs, plumbing, or electrical updates.Efficiency Improvements: Adding energy-efficient windows, new HVAC systems, and better insulation to increase the property's overall value.The goal of the rehab phase is to increase the property’s market value while making it an attractive place for tenants.

Look at Homes.com or Realtor.com to get an idea what that type of property is selling for (look at the ones Pending or Under Contract)...or, look in the county's GIS system to see what similar properties sold for.Once you have an idea what a fair market value would be, let the landlord (if they're interested in selling) mention their price. 

I guess I was lucky this was the first place I found and didn't waste money on other systems.

The problem is we have so many mom and pop landlords and there is no central system to communicate new laws. 

If you are going to school, I'm not sure you'd be making enough money to qualify for a mortgage.Prices in London are nuts and the real estate system in Scotland is not in the buyer's favour as they do sealed bids.I got started in grad school, but had my parents co-sign a loan (for which I made all of the payments and I had the down payment). 

Before becoming a designer, I was a systems engineer and business analyst (MIS degree), so my process is deeply rooted in formulas to keep the right elements at the forefront.

So, WHY screw with a successful system that your able to operate without undue stress? 

The Rentastic (and other RE focused systems) do seem way more simple, and user friendly than QBO.

Overall, it's a good system.

I've heard horror stories that it's usually impossible due to the "burden placed on the municipality" but could really never understand what that burden was... most people living in those units wouldn't be using the school systems so aside from maybe an increased volume in emergency medical situations I can not understand that statement?