There will be risks in anything worth while, so continue to mitigate your risk by finding a simple property you can force appreciation (cosmetics).

I suppose it increases the value of the home.

Simple, you connect with those that do it and allow them to handle.

Sometimes the investor finds a way to hang on long enough for appreciation, amortization and increasing rental rates to survive the first few years and put him on solid footing.  

Keep in mind that buying from a foreclosure sale or an off market deal where the seller (not the property) was distressed is not a considered an arms length transaction.When you make improvements to the property, known as rehabilitation or renovation; you necessarily increase the value.

Take into consideration if it is a prime location or if you have an anchor tenant that drives in lots of traffic then you can increase your rent/fee.

Simple rules.

Are you interested in increasing the value of the property through rehab prior to renting it?

Am I allowed to increase rent more than 3% when I buy the duplex?

By the way, the rent has the potential to increase in the future.