I just rehabbed a studio that was so bad the tar from smoking was running down the walls lol. we washed them and the untextured ceiling down twice and hit it with oil base primer.

Things to avoid are lots of stairs, crappy parking situations, and awkward setups like short ceilings, choppy layout, small living room/bedrooms, no laundry.

long story short - scrub the whole house with vinegar water. then paint ceiling to floor with killz primer 2-3 times. remove any and all carpet.

If you even get a permit for the concversion, by the time you bring in water and sewer, frost proof the structure, remove the garage door and header, raise the ceiling, cut in windows, a kitchenette and a bathroom you have spent way too much money on something that you will get little rent and will never be able to sell.New construction around here is about $220/sqft - it will be worth more than what you spend on it and you can get high rents.

Biggest points of concern:- Ceiling height- Must have egress exit- Windows must not exceed a certain height above floorI have considered doing this to one of my buildings on OSU campus.

The renovation included: Whole house replumb, new roof, windows, driveway, porch, landscaping, carpet, paint, ceiling fixtures, refinished hardwood floors, remodeled one bathroom and added another.

If it were mine, I would do all of the following before shelling out money for a secondary system.Check ther attic insulation.Consider installing UV heat repelant tint (it has a service life) on all sun side windows.Have a thermo scan done of the exterior and interior to see where heat problems occur.Have the AC system check by a tech for proper amount of coolant, and to see if its too big or too small.Vent the cooking hood outdoors (if it's legal to do so).Install ceiling fans in the hallway upstairs and in the bedrooms.Have tech make sure the draw air system is sized (and positioned) correctly for each floor.Make sure the thermostat is not a (NASA Project of complication designed to micro manage the temp), and that it is working correctly.Some Techs are much better than others....Good Luck!

The interior consists of vaulted ceilings, a full kitchen with dish washer and cooktop.

@Jose LinaresThere was visible mold on the drywall on the basement ceiling and walls where the water was leaking through.

I removed all sheetrock in the ceilings and all old insulation and bleached and cleaned, but after putting up new sheetrock, finishing, and priming and painting, the smell still remains upstairs.