I always tell clients do basic updates line new cabinets, sink, stone counters, paint and this can get you a large rent increase plus hopefully some equity.For financing there is a 10% down option that gets you around the self sufficiency test via a local credit union or FHA is popular for the legal 2 units. 

Mold, rotten MDF, crappy repairs to get the cabinets to "look" ok, all of it behind cabinets, appliances, and generally all covered up with the thin cabinet siding you can buy at HD or Lowes.It was apparent to me that there had been some sort of significant water event, but I could not prove the seller was aware; however, a few days later, I was chatting with a neighbor, and she asked if I was aware of the flood that had occurred in the property. 

The house ended up with brown tile, brown cabinets, brown countertops, and a shade of brown paint that looked more yellow than it did brown.To my credit, that color palate was more popular at the time, but when I look back at it today it's a bit embarrassing.Going forward I have worked with designers almost ever time.

minor cosmetic updates: landscaping, painting, cabinet hardware, update light fixtures.

I agre with @Bonnie Low: if you're going to do it, do it right.You don't need an executive desk with six drawers and a filing cabinet, but the desk should be of the appropriate height for a workspace, preferably with a keyboard drawer, and the chair should be comfortable.I would not install a printer.

Hello everyone so I just bought my first rental home it is an older home from 1909 it has a basement well kind of a basement so it is a weird design the ceiling heights are only 65 inches tall and it has concrete floors with a furnace and water heater right in the middle and it is small the basement is only about 650 ft.² the upstairs of the house has been partially updated the kitchen and bathroom Are the two areas where somebody put a little bit of money into it like newer flooring newer appliances some Ookay cabinets some OK countertops the two bedrooms and living room are original hardwood floors that I am probably going to get refinished so my question is I have some money to rehab the house my options are doing some thing with the basement which right now I’m not even sure if it can ever be considered a habitable space because of the ceiling height issue and it does not have egress which I could get egress but it’s not that cheap I would probably just finish it as a rec room or something like that or I could put a majority of the money into the upstairs by upgrading it it does have a sunroom at the front of the house  which is a newer addition to the home which is in pretty good condition also probably would use some of the money to get a new paint job on the house I am just a little confused where I should put the money originally I was thinking the basement and had this whole plan planned out but now I’m starting to revert and go maybe towards  making the upstairs and outside and landscape nicer

Hello everyone so I just bought my first rental home it is an older home from 1909 it has a basement well kind of a basement so it is a weird design the ceiling heights are only 65 inches tall and it has concrete floors with a furnace and water heater right in the middle and it is small the basement is only about 650 ft.² the upstairs of the house has been partially updated the kitchen and bathroom Are the two areas where somebody put a little bit of money into it like newer flooring newer appliances some Ookay cabinets some OK countertops the two bedrooms and living room are original hardwood floors that I am probably going to get refinished so my question is I have some money to rehab the house my options are doing some thing with the basement which right now I’m not even sure if it can ever be considered a habitable space because of the ceiling height issue and it does not have egress which I could get egress but it’s not that cheap I would probably just finish it as a rec room or something like that or I could put a majority of the money into the upstairs by upgrading it it does have a sunroom at the front of the house which is a newer addition to the home which is in pretty good condition also probably would use some of the money to get a new paint job on the house I am just a little confused where I should put the money originally I was thinking the basement and had this whole plan planned out but now I’m starting to revert and go maybe towards making the upstairs and outside and landscape nicer

I need my walls, and kitchen cabinets repainted, new toilets reinstalled, new flooring, new electrical outlets and light switches to be changed, and a few other minor repairs.

Brand new untouched appliances in all kitchens and late 90s cabinets I would paint.

I replaced toilets, bath cabinets & tops, all light fixtures & wall plate covers, door hinges & handles, installed wood wall T&G in the main bath, and I installed a 3-phase water filtration system (this was a huge value add).