You could have hired a PM and been financially and mentally better off.

The people that lived there must have had severe mental and behavioral problems.

Kind of the mentality of the war torn countries like Angola/DR Congo - where leadership thinks "get them conflicts going and get them blood diamonds making us rich".

Our mental model is to have enough that someone arriving late could put together a bare bones meal for dinner and have the essentials for breakfast before they head out to get actual groceries. 

I book marginal candidates in between strong ones to create a scarcity mentality. 

So I'm trying to have a "built to sell" type mentality here. 

Absolutely, creating a baseline business plan is a crucial step when starting in real estate (or any field) because it provides clarity, direction, and a strategic foundation for your efforts. 

But I’ve found that a well-chosen angle or a unique architectural detail can give guests a mental anchor point.. something that says, “Yes, this is a real place with character.”

You should do something, what is the question and relies on us getting more clarity on your investment property, personal finances, etc.

This clarity upfront helps set aligned expectations and creates a smooth start to the renovation process.