Look up Lease Runner (I am not affiliated or receive any compensation for such recommendation) ;-)Its something I have used for a while now.  

They all break, and you'll get endless phone calls to fix them! 

I HATE the idea of knocking on doors for rent payments and only do so if I am chasing a "runner".  

Endless stories of rental scammers here. 

Bought a multi-family in May and the neighbor is a nut job.Has an endless list of complaints, some valid and some not.He called the property code inspector two weeks after closing, and I have a laundry list of repairs that I now need to (financially) prioritize over renovating and renting out the interior.The violations are about half resolved…then today my tenant notified me that city lead abatement folks were at the property.I feel like every time I turn around he’s going to be calling in trying to get the property cited, and I can’t let my guard down.

The possibilities are endless for them once they graduate.What will be your pick?

Why would you sell it for a loss, then buy something else for another loss plus more losses for endless repairs on the next crap car?

I'd put a nice carpet runner up the treads, it will protect the treads and should be fairly cheap; pick a good wearing but modern pattern/color for the carpet.

I think its a GREAT city and endless opportunity.. unlike parts of other cities in the rust best were there are areas that are beyond salvage and will eventually go to pasture.Chicago has these incredible brick homes that were built like tanks.. so great bones.. and the city is not dying.. its thriving.. politics aside... to me in your business this is a never ending land of opportunity.. much more so than we have on the west coast..

Hosting runners during the Boston Marathon bombing and ensuring they had a safe place to come home remains something that will stay with me far longer than a silly carpet stain.