You want your tax assessed value to be as low as possible so your taxes are as low as possible.  

Because, as of now, the offer is going to be very low since I can't get inside. 

Inventory for small multi units is very low right now in north Chicago.  

The floor is from Lowes.

Prices for investments are really low here - you can buy as cheap as $500 per house, some agents just give the lock box code to their clients - so they wouldn't have to drive.

After much education and learning I have bought properties with low or no money down.

.- No/Low points upfront.- 30 yr am.If you can identify which 1 or 2 you want to give up, and can be crystal clear when Dialing for Dollars, it'll likely save you a bunch of time.

But if your goal is to keep your rehab costs low, it may be worth not doing as invasive of a project and going with the high velocity so you don't run into more problems when you start opening things up!

Taxes are low, area is fine, and the new owner would still cash flow a couple hundred with a pretty good return.

There is one set of stairs, which is also carpeted.Home Depot and Lowe's both gave me estimates of a whopping $10,000, and a local floor guy gave me an $8,000 estimate.