I had two choices: stay in my comfort zone or take a leap of faith.

Exterior Deck or PatioAdding an outdoor living space like a deck or patio extends the usable living area and enhances the home's appeal, especially in regions with warm weather.In addition to these improvements, understanding the local real estate market and focusing on upgrades that align with buyer preferences in that area is crucial for maximizing ARV.Noah, thank you for this great feedback.

This allows investors to maximize their returns without having to directly face the more restrictive regulations.What do you think about this alternative? 

Get out of your comfort zone.

There is no such absolute rule or mandate for REI - it is up to you on your comfort level with your cash flow versus total investment versus appreciation potential.If I followed that rule, I would have missed out on a LOT of great opportunities over the years.We bought a house in Jones Valley in 2017 with negative cash flow - why? 

Maximizing cashflow becomes a strategy choice that accounts for your market and tenants.

We do a similar thing for our long-term tenatns, leases start and end in July so that we maximize the demand and stay "in season" 

Main reason to split the lot would be to maximize the lot for cash flowing rentals.

I'm not comfortable with them, especially for the first 4 items.Would you kindly explain to me for each of them?

It might be that this couple that owns the house is just getting their feet wet with having someone else managing the property and they want to get comfortable with your management style as being what they want.