Ill be going in tomorrow night with a black light looking for problem areas.  

With the increase in value of the property, increased rent and some landscaping work, my part of the property is now worth $30 000 in net value.

We've made a lot of impovements around the building, keeping things clean, landscaping, etc.  

New roof, siding, central ac/heat, water heater, lights, carpets, toilets, counters and faucets (they are not gold btw) in bathrooms, paint, lots of new trim and finish items (vent registers, baseboards, etc.), and full clean up of yard and exterior.

Better pics with better lighting and blinds open.

We did a lot of landscaping and we painted the entire home inside and out.

They look distressed and I've never seen a light on or car in the drive way.

This is exciting and I am sure it was great seeing this come to light. 

I know this doesn't give you a specific to-do list - but hopefully it sheds some light on the thought process involved before just doing a cash-out refi or securing a HELOC and still wondering what to do with those funds!  

If the planners don't support it or think the city won't support it, you have a challenging task - which is why we rely upon the Comprehensive Plan if there is one.Assuming we have a tenative green light, the code should outline what is required for the process, and the planner should be able to clarify the requirements.