@Fernan Nava,Very good advice, “Know your market”.So, I am giving myself between now and spring to really evaluate the rent raises.One thing that is driving me to consider the raises, is that I am contemplating taking on exterior porch maintenance, something tenants were tasked with in existing lease but I have had to remind them repeatedly on, with little luck.I have come to find that it is easier to fight monetary vs. compliance issues in evictions court.I therefore want to put a monetary value to items/policies that don't currently have a monetary value.In existing lease tenants are required to keep their immediate exterior areas clean, but somehow either they are just lazy or just flat out stubborn and while yes I could issue a 3-day notice to quit, I choose not to.Instead, I plan to take on that responsibility and simply charge them for it, so I am not wasting my time reminding them of it during next lease term.Less is more in my opinion and I prefer an approach where I have more chance of success in evictions court.Up the price and take care of the exterior 3 times during the lease term and I don’t have to worry about it while at the same time I get to maintain curb appeal and keep pests away which is my biggest concern.

So if I'm a renter there's no sense of 'curb appeal'. 

If you can come to the city to visit that helps but often, as a majority of properties are "curb offers only", buyers will come out for inspections after the offer is made and then go home and complete the rest of deal form there.

The shut off valve is older so plumber suggested having water company shut off the main water at the curb, replacing the shut off valve, then having water company turn water back on.

Start with the end value of the buildings or lots and work backwards.Next check with the city or county to determine if you can do what you want to do and what is required for all zoning approvals and the time frame,Ask if you have to install curb, gutter, sidewalks, street signs, street lighting or any other special requirements.Are there any specific street design requirements, DOT requirements, permits or traffic studies.DWQ, Army Corp or any other environmental requirements or permits.General permit fees, proffers, water/sewer tap fees and the process of setting taps and connecting.

Skylights in a bathroom are unnecessary and just a problem waiting to happen...If you have to have them, I'd guess that it's going to cost you about $1200 each to replace...and yes you can get a synthetic product to use for your curbs, something like Azek.

A tactic would be to check the road access and see if they need more curb cuts or median changes or a dedicated turn lane or whatever and get that built into the zoning change (i.e. for the zoning to change, builder must perform all of this new roadwork) -- this is a "compromise" - the neighborhood agreeing to the development if they mitigate issues, but it could put the cost high enough to make the return unacceptable.

While I feel this has helped the place be booked solid, the 20K to furnish the house was a big chunk on top of the down payment and I think we could have saved 5K to 10K up front and not really impacted the "curb appeal". 4) Good decisions - Like @Lynn Currie buying it.

(i.e. improve curb appeal, add a bathroom, add a bedroom, renovate a kitchen, increase your marketing efforts, drop the rent).Other options also include lease-options, seller-financing a sale, selling with an agent.Have fun and make your own luck!

City usually shuts water off at curb also on something like this unless you get in there right away.Call water dept and gas have utilities reversed to your name, and figure out if it's best just to charge extra for rent and include utilities in the future.