When looking at the house pay particular attention to the location of plumbing fixtures and any other lines (gas, electrical, ducting, etc) as they will be more costly to move than they would be with a basement.Additionally, if the building is older and has cast iron or copper DWV, you may want to have the lines scoped to ensure they are in good condition (as it can be a big, disruptive job to replace bad lines).

Are you buying and sourcing the big ticket items like cabinets, millwork, doors, windows, light fixtures etc yourself? 

We unified the floors by doing a gorgeous light colored LVP throughout, painted the interior SW Incredible White, new basic granite countertops, new prefab bathroom vanities, new toilets, added a fence to the yard, upgraded all switches to rockers and replaced all fixture with flush mount LEDs.

For example, does the bathroom have a $200 home depot vanity or do you see a gorgeous vanity with quartz counter tops and top of the line fixtures.

Choose neutral colors that will appeal to a wide range of tenants.Upgrade lighting: Replacing outdated light fixtures with modern, energy-efficient options can not only improve the aesthetic of your rental, but it can also save your tenants money on their energy bills.Update kitchen and bathroom hardware: Swapping out old faucets, handles, and drawer pulls for newer, stylish options can make a big impact in these high-use areas.

I pay the cost of the permits.To demo the whole house - $3,000 plus I pay for the dumpsters.New Roof - $3,000 Waterproof basement - busted up concrete and installed french drain system  fed into sump pump (kept existing sump pump) and water seal paint the inside (no outside work) $5,000.Frame whole house - $3,000 (basically basement and main level.. upstairs didn't really change)Drywall - delivered, hung, and finished - $32 per sheet he estimates 120 sheets needed ($3,840 total)Insulate all walls and attic - $1500(*) Rough electrical including permits,new panel & wire - $4000  (outlets, switches, cans, fixtures, etc. additional)(*) New duct work - $4,000 ... seems fairly simple with the house demo'd and being such a small house. 

Beyond that, you can swap out the toilet, vanity, and light fixtures (if they are simple). 

That means that not only does the house show well but it's got the normal features expected for its market; garage door opener, high efficiency HVAC, solar reflective window screens, attractive landscaping, good quality appliances and fixtures, nice decor touches.The best thing I ever did for keeping tenants longer was to require a minimum two year lease going in.

The 2nd floor outlets and ceiling fixtures can be fished down from above (once you get wires up to the attic).The hardest things to rewire without opening too many holes in walls or ceilings are the 1st floor lights on a 2 story home.

I have a “Heidi” bathroom design that my contractor knows how to do in a new house - beadboard, Pale Aqua walls, chrome fixtures, gray plank tile.