I asked to speak to them and when I asked the guy who he was he said in an African accent that he was the landlord.

I will add some to Greg's: detergent for the washing machine so you cleaner can wash the sheets.  

Blue tarp on the roof, lots of trash in the front yard, and it's very apparent that the house has not been washed or painted in years. 

A broken washing machine probably wouldn't trigger this, but perhaps a refrigerator would.

Raised foundations tend to be easier to add bathrooms because plumbing can be moved under the house such as from an existing laundry room.

Not remaining anoynmous or worried about the laundry list of things most novice investors focus their time and energy on that adds zero value.

Laundry in the basement for each unit.

I don't think it's just an internal transaction and a wash in IRS eyes, nor same as a 1031.   

Investors analyze income, costs, financing conditions, market rents, operating efficiency, and other dangers in order to assess cash flow potential.Increased revenue from tenants, extra sources such as laundry facilities, parking fees, and storage rents, as well as mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, maintenance expenses, utilities, property management fees, vacancy allowance, and capital expenditures.

Other considerations things to look at include; are any utilities common (like paying for a boiler for all 4 units instead of individual furnaces), how does access/common areas work, do the tenants all have access to laundry, are there any common area utilities (light common area lights, electric or gas for laundry) that would stay in the owner name.