Here is what we found out about our property that was a cute little cottage:PGE during the winter time was $400 a month, for a 750 sq ft 2 bdrm 2 ba apt, that was rediculious.During the summer, the PGE was great, but without central heating and air, the house was smokin' all summer.The building was built in 1930 with no upgrades, so no insulation in the walls or the ceilings.We never really paid attention to the fact that all the big windows were plexiglass and not glass windows so the heat permeates into the house all summer long.The new gas furnace that we initially installed, did not heat the 2nd bedroom because of it's location in the house, so during the winter the only way that room gets heat is to turn on the stove and the heater (hence the high bill besides the heat escaping through the walls and windows).Since we have lived here we have been able to address each of these issues. 

Keep in mind that with a 5 unit, that's 5x the water heaters, furnaces, sinks, toilets, stoves, etc for the inspector to test- it's a lot more work.

They buy used stove, fridges, don’t paint well, etc...

. - Wood stove needs to be replaced and chimney flue as well, it's out of date about 2 years ago according to fire code. - Kitchen appliances are almost at end of life, cabinets could badly use at least a facelift or full renovation.Obviously we are going to have to sink a fair amount of money in materials alone to this place.

Clean stove - $25, clean fridge $25 etc etc.

That weekend, I got a drunken phone call from the tile guy (who'd clearly fallen off the wagon), cursing me out because, in my absence, one of my lesser-skilled laborers had put a miter saw on top of the stove and to make cuts, getting sawdust on and inside the stove (stupid, I know).

It needs a stove,fridge and washer and dryer as well.

The carpet wasn't torn or stinky, the stove worked, but.. 

I am thinking  I could blow my house with a gas water heater or gas stove as well. 

The edges near the stove were buckled from heat & it also had a lot of cuts from years of using it as a cutting board.Then I bought a lower grade of 3/4 inch Chinese granite for yet another rehab.