Look for properties on main corridors or sites with existing structures (e.g., small houses or retail buildings) that can be torn down and redeveloped.Challenges in South Florida: Be mindful of market conditions and local regulations.

Completely renovated main level:* Demoed and redid kitchen with new appliances* Refinished floors and reglazed bathroom* Replaced the roofComplete demoed and finished the basement and landscaping* Replaced half bath with full and added 2 bedrooms* Replaced entire plumbing including sewer line* Added second washer dryer* installed stamped concrete patio and walkway plus fence* All new landscapingWhat was the outcome?

Steps 2 & 3 would be the main contributions of a Civil Engineer who is involved. 

Main exterior first. 1 photo.Next photo highlighting best aspect of main level.

Mainly because you remind me of the unsavory individuals I have had the displeasure of meeting.  

Several things to consider: 1) One of the main purposes of segmenting your assets into separate LLC's is so that your personal net worth or equity in other business ventures or properties isn't exposed, so unless you have a high net worth or a lot of equity in a property, it might not be worth bothering going the separate LLC route, especially when it restricts your financing of the property.  2) Most any commercial financing you get from a local bank for a small property is going to have recourse anyhow and require that you sign a personal guarantee, so you're still personally on the hook to the bank even in the case of a commercial loan.  3) If you're a newer investor and buying a deal that's tight on cash flow, or if you don't have a ton of cash sitting in the bank already, your greatest risk factor as an investor is your investment failing economically due to poor financing terms or not operating the investment properly, not because you get sued. 

I've read a few guides about turning the main on gradually, going fixture to fixture one at a time, etc.

Freedom to fail. '08' could have been one of the greatest cleansings of our nation in generations but instead we got scammed and then force feed the kool-aid of how good it was that wall-street won out over main-street. 

The sewer main is one of the most important, and most valuable parts of the property...so, why wouldn't we inspect that too?

I am willing to give up control to benefit from the experience and efforts of a good operator that I trust when I have the capital to deploy.The main reason for this has to do with time.