You provide the form and the seller/ their management company/ whoever currently communicates directly with tenants needs to have the tenants fill out the estoppels and provide to you during your due diligence period.

Reference multiple websites across a short period, such as crimemapping.com or neighborhoodscout.com.

Mike,There is no specific time period associated with taking the first steps. 

I agree with following your lease, but you can't charge someone to live there and collect rent from another tenant for the same time period.

My thoughts are that there should be ways to make the period without stairs shorter, for example, pre-assemble as much as possible and hire a dedicated team.

Check on the project periodically.

On another note, you do realize any house left unattended for lengthy periods will expose you to a multitude of problems, for example:Mold, rodents, insect infestation is almost certainCarpetbaggers, homeless, and or drug addicts may become a problem that could ultimately be your responsibilityWhat is the city ordinance?

@Jason Hutcheson, There is no statutory holding period other than your intent. 

My gross income is $137,000 +periodic varying bonuses. 

Now that we've forced appreciation, following a seasoning period to simply have the management stabilized and see what the general flow of business is like, we'll look to refinance and pull our cash back out.