Never thought I'd be watching this library video because of a bigger pockets thread...learn something new every day..BTW, I can't seem to find any out of place neighbors in all her outdoor shots..I think you're good.

Todays lifestyles with outdoor living spaces being being all the rage, I consider them important in most cases. 

Thanks for the advice, I'm going to replace the outdoor unit, should cost a little under 3k.

We are also targeting areas with popular outdoor activities such as rock climbing, river kayaking, mountain biking, fishing, and hiking, which are all excellent ways to experience our amazing region, and therefore also reasons why people visit. 

Sounds like you care way more about being outdoors than about money.

I am a landscape designer, with some indoor and outdoor lighting experience, and so I'm interested right now in Owner-occupied multi's that I can fix up and rent out, although I'm finding it hard to believe that I could ever apply this model in Los Angeles.

Before seeing the photos I was thinking "add a deck, or a covered screened patio...create a conservatory feel by allowing the living room to flow into the outdoors." 

We have success with 3 key marketing strategies:1) AdWords - set up an account with the right keywords and a good landing page2) Direct Mail to Absentee Owners with Equity3) Outdoor - billboards (static & electronic), other signage, wrapped cars, etc.We're also now running radio and TV advertising in a lot of our markets but that's not a strategy that I start with.  

My point is yes, “shoddy” (your words).To reference some examples - they put in a new water heater and when my PM went to get the water turned on by the water company – this is what we received from water company…..WATERCANNOT HAVE STAB FITTINGS OR PLASTIC PIPE BEFORE METER, GASHOLE IN CHIMNEY FROM OLD WATER HEATER VENT NEEDS SEALED AND CLEANED OUT DOOR MISSING NEEDS SEALEDI paid to fix it so I could get it turned on and rented.

The sole remaining inherited tenant has an outdoor bar and round table with 6 chairs as well as a barbecue grill.