When we updated 3 units in a building in 2018 we put in vinyl plank flooring in the kitchen and living areas and carpet on the stairs and bedrooms.

The first floor did not have a bathroom so we replaced an under the stairs closet as a powder room.

Main egress is enclosed stairs on front of house. 2nd egress for tenants are stairs in back leading to yard and driveway.

Oftentimes the reason you have 3 units, but as a legal two is because enhanced egress is needed for the third unit, for attic ones in back stairs, and the cost usually outweighs the option for owners who are illegally renting the third unit.

I avoid buying any deals with any major negatives to it such as busy streets, near railroad tracks, in airport flight paths, having a large number of stairs to climb from street to front door, commercial unit next to or behind it (unless the play is to convert the usage of course), or any major factor that will hinder your buyers pool With a smaller buyers pool comes less competition for your unit and therefore, typically will make it more difficult to sell (longer hold times) and for less than the model match on a non busy street or without major detrimental factors.This opinion of mine comes from 15 years of experience and making some of these mistakes.

We’ll see if I can get more insight but I want to complete the work to start generating some income …it would complete to top half of the split level so We can start house hacking the in-law down stairs…again thanks everyone i really helps out 

I'm looking for suggestions on what I can put on the floor (currently cement) and walls (currently brick) to water proof it but not have to rip up and destroy if water finds its ways in again.

Also, I am very interested in adding a second bath upstairs and/or doing something more productive with the wasted community space connecting the stairs and upstairs BRs (ie- add a bathroom here or create a 4th BR).

Hi Dana,In addition to paint, maybe put a strip of black indoor outdoor carpet just in front of the door (and on the steps if they are not cement).That area is going to take most of the abuse of moving (scraping appliances and furniture) in and out, as well as most of the foot traffic.Cut 3 or 4 more sheets and toss them in the attic for future use.A hand full of staples is much cheaper and faster on turns than a full repaint.Also keep in mind that is a long narrow space and Lighter colors make things appear larger, darker colors--the opposite.Good Luck!

The triplex were living in right now we bought as a Duplex 2 months ago because the bottom two units are currently connected (and only one of those two units have a kitchen) and the top unit you have to go outside and up the stairs to get to.