But I also don’t know of any appliance shop with no return policy.

Local furniture shop about 8 miles away did the woodwork out of Mahogany, really great job. 

What's the breakdown in tenancy between the shops and any income from the barn (or the house)? 

My sister-in-law has found a house in their neighborhood that has been vacant for years, and lo and behold, the owner has passed away and the heirs are looking to sell.

If heat goes out in the winter we drop off several units, so they can be placed in different parts of the house - including every room with water like kitchen and bathrooms.We also have dehumidifiers, carpet blowers, shop vacs, puddle-sucker pumps, extra hoses, extra sump pumps with battery pack, squeegees, and portable AC units ready to deploy. 

I will shop around for homes based on these inputs.

You must not follow your instinct and attempt to invest as little as possible into the renovations thinking "If someone is willing to live in this neighborhood there is no way they have standards". 

I'd recommend the following:1) Continue to stay at home to save up more2) Buy the crappiest home in a good neighborhood, with financial help (parents?)

I'm getting asked constantly about different neighborhoods and cities in Cleveland so I decided to make the most up-to-date graded map of Cleveland to serve as your ultimate investment guide.

Buy on the wrong street or in the wrong neighborhood and you will set yourself back.